Summary: John ‘Corey’ Whaley’s debut novel, Where Things Come Back, was the winner of the 2012 Michael L. Printz and William C. Morris Awards. This poignant and hilarious story of loss and redemption “explores the process of grief, second chances, and even the meaning of life” (Kirkus Reviews). Publishers Weekly also named Where Things Come Back one of the best books of 2011. WHALEY grew up in the small town of Springhill, Louisiana, where he learned to be sarcastic and to tell stories. He has a B.A. in English from Louisiana Tech University, as well as an M.A in Secondary English Education. He started writing stories about aliens and underwater civilizations when he was around ten or eleven, but now writes realistic YA fiction (which sometimes includes zombies…). He taught public school for five years and spent much of that time daydreaming about being a full-time writer…and dodging his students’ crafty projectiles. He is terrible at most sports, but is an avid kayaker and bongo player. He is obsessed with movies, music, and traveling to new places. He is an incredibly picky eater and has never been punched in the face, though he has come quite close. His favorite word is defenestration. His favorite color is green. His favorite smell is books. Where Things Come Back is his first novel. On the Intersect Podcast we talk to him about that, his teaching experiences, his weird pickiness towards foods, and more.
