Kathe Koja

Koja’s first novel, The Cipher, was originally entitled The Funhole. The editor Jeanne Cavelos published Koja’s novel through the Dell Abyss line. Dell rejected the original title.

On writing for young adults, Koja states that she loves the young adult genre for the fact that as an author, she is granted the ability to re-examine that aspect of life, including the highs and lows of adolescence. Koja describes this period of life as a place where change is inevitable and almost anything can happen, and to Koja that is exciting. In Koja’s stories, the characters themselves have a close relationship with art. Koja does this because in her personal life and travels, she encounters other writers who use their art as a place of shelter. The art of these individuals, in Koja’s eyes, are a reflection of themselves. Their art is likened to a mirror.

Koja's work is influenced by Shirley Jackson, Flannery O’Connor, Carter Scholz, Sylvia Plath. The film Night of the Living Dead also was a big influence (HNR).

Koja’s first novel in 2002, Straydog, received positive reviews and awards. Paula Rohrlick, writing in Kliatt, praised Straydog as a "short, swift read … packed full of emotion." A critic for Kirkus Reviews added that "fans of tales about teen writers, or stories with animal themes, will pant after this." Similarly, a contributor to Publishers Weekly described Straydog as a "solid if sometimes familiar tale of a high school misfit" that presents teen readers with a "compelling and sympathetic" protagonist in Rachel. Farida S. Dowler, writing in School Library Journal, noted that Koja's presentation of Rachel's growing "friendship with Griffin has romantic tension, but transcends high-school stereotypes," while in Horn Book Jennifer M. Brabander concluded that the novel is a "fast but semi-sophisticated read for teens who haven't outgrown dog stories."

Praising The Blue Mirror as an "eerie, psychologically gripping urban tale" similar to the work of author Francesca Lia Block, a Publishers Weekly reviewer added that in her story "Koja explores the confusion between infatuation and real love—in all its cruelty and its redemptive powers." In the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, a reviewer gave special note to Koja's protagonist, noting that "Maggy's voice is articulate, controlled, and self-aware, which makes for intriguing reading." Of the novel, Koja noted on her Web site: "The Blue Mirror is concerned with vision, the way we see—or sometimes refuse to see—what's right in front of us, and what can happen when we open our eyes."

Kathe Koja won the Locus Award for Best First Novel as well as the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Horror Novel from the Horror Writers of America. Both awards were received in 1992, and both for Koja’s Novel, The Cipher. She was also awarded the Humane Societies Kid’s in Nature’s Defense honor, and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Henry Bergh Award, both in 2002, and both for Koja’s Novel Straydog. Koja is also the recipient of the Children’s Book Award, International Reading Association, and Aociety of Midland Authors Children’s Fiction Award, both in 2004, and awards were for her novel Buddha Boy.

Kathe Koja (born 1960) is an American writer. She was initially known for her intense speculative fiction for adults, but has written young adult novels, the historical fiction Under the Poppy trilogy, and a fictional biography of Christopher Marlowe.