Laurie Frankel

Laurie Frankel is a New York Times bestselling novelist, essayist, and public speaker whose work is recognized for its focus on contemporary fiction and social issues. She is the author of six novels, including "Enormous Wings," as well as "Family Family," "One Two Three," "This Is How It Always Is," "Goodbye For Now," and "The Atlas of Love." Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Poets & Writers, Publishers Weekly, People Magazine, Lit Hub, The Sydney Morning Herald, and other publications.

Frankel gained widespread attention with "This Is How It Always Is," a novel about a family navigating gender identity, which achieved bestseller status. Her essay, "From He To She In First Grade," published in the New York Times Modern Love column, preceded the novel and generated significant public discussion. "This Is How It Always Is" received the Washington State Book Award and was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, People Magazine, The Globe and Mail, InStyle, Bustle, and others. Frankel's novels have been translated into more than 25 languages, optioned for film and television, and selected for national book clubs such as Reese's Book Club and Target.

Frankel's work often addresses social issues, including transgender rights, environmental justice, and non-traditional families. Her novel "Goodbye For Now" explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and grief, a concept that earned her the Endeavor Award for Science Fiction. "One Two Three" examines environmental injustice and community resilience, while "Family Family" delves into adoption and family dynamics. Frankel is an advocate for transgender rights and has written about adoption as a deliberate choice.

A former college professor, Frankel has taught courses ranging from creative writing to Shakespeare, playwriting, and gender studies. She continues to teach at writing retreats, workshops, conferences, and nonprofit organizations, and is a frequent speaker on topics such as transgender rights, artificial intelligence, environmental justice, and fiction writing. Frankel is known for bringing clarity and insight to both her writing and her public speaking engagements.