Anuradha D. Rajurkar is a highly acclaimed literary fiction novelist, best known for her contemporary young adult novel, "American Betiya." This debut work of fiction won her the Emerging Voices Award by SCBWI. Born and raised in the Chicago area to South Asian immigrant parents, Rajurkar brings a unique perspective to her writing. She earned two degrees from Northwestern University and spent many years as a public school teacher before becoming a full-time writer.
Rajurkar's writing is informed by her experiences as a child of immigrants, and she often explores themes of identity, culture, and family in her work. Her writing is both accessible and thought-provoking, appealing to both young adult and adult readers. In addition to "American Betiya," she has also written a young adult gothic thriller entitled "Temporary Bodies," which is set to be published by Knopf in 2024.
When she's not writing, Rajurkar enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking the shores of Lake Michigan and tending to her garden. She is also an avid reader and horror movie fan, and she loves watching films with her sons. She is a self-proclaimed lazy knitter, often knitting sweaters without patterns. Rajurkar lives in Evanston, Illinois, with her husband and two sons. She hopes that her stories will inspire teens to embrace their unique identities and inner badass despite outside pressures and cultural expectations.