Thirteen Reasons Why (Asher) - Author Bio

Author Bio
• Birth—September 30, 1975
• Where—Arcadia, California, USA
• Education—Cuesta Community College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (no degree)
• Currently—lives in California


Jay Asher is an American writer of contemporary novels for teens. He was born in Arcadia, California, and grew up with a family that encouraged him to pursue his many interests—from guitar playing to writing. He attended Cuesta Community College after graduating from San Luis Obispo High School. It was here where he wrote his first two children’s books for a class called Children’s Literature Appreciation.

Deciding he wanted to become an elementary school teacher, he transferred to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. But he left his senior year in order to pursue his career as a serious writer. In 2002 he married his wife Joan Marie. Those early years found him working in various establishments, including a shoe store, libraries, and bookstores. Many of his work experiences had an impact on some aspect of his writing.

Writing
Asher's first novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, became a 2007 New York Times best-selling young-adult fiction novel. It won several awards and received five stars from Teen Book Review, as well as high praise from fellow authors, including Ellen Hopkins, Sherman Alexie, and Chris Crutcher, and Gordon Korman.

His second novel The Future of Us was co-written by Carolyn Mackler and published in 2011. He has also written several picture books and middle school humor novels.

Asher is a fan of the TV series My So-Called Life and cites it as a major influence on his work.

Synopses
Thirteen Reasons Why (2007). This is the story of Hannah Baker, a girl who committed suicide. She reveals her thirteen reasons for her decision in a series of seven audio tapes mailed to a classmate with instructions to pass them from one student to another, in the style of a chain letter. Through Hannah's recorded voice, her classmates learn the reasons why Hannah decides to take her own life. Besides Hannah, the reader also sees the story through the eyes of Clay Jensen, one of the recipients of the tapes. Asher was inspired to write due to incidents that happened in his high school.

The Future of Us (2011) This was co-written with Carolyn Mackler. This is the story of Josh and Emma, two teenagers who used to be best friends until a huge misunderstanding. In 1996, Josh helps Emma set up her internet, only to find Facebook—before it has been invented. There, they can see themselves 15 years in the future—status updates, information, friends, etc. Using Facebook, they are able to change their destinies. (Adapted from Wikipedia. Retrieved 10/09/2014.)