Rainbow Rowell

Rowell was a columnist and ad copywriter at the Omaha World-Herald from 1995 to 2012.{{cite web|last1=Solem-Pfeifer|first1=Chance|title=Q&A: Rainbow Rowell transitions from newspaper columns to novels|url=http://www.dailynebraskan.com/arts_and_entertainment/q-a-rainbow-rowell-transitions-from-newspaper-columns-to-novels/article_d79a5bac-3bee-5f3a-b838-bc219d494e7e.html|website=Daily Nebraskan|date=3 April 2011 |access-date=1 November 2014}}

After leaving her position as a columnist, Rowell began working for an ad agency and writing what would become her first published novel, Attachments, as a pastime.{{cite web | date=August 7, 2014 | access-date=March 16, 2015 | first1=Ashley C. | last1=Ford |author-link1=Ashley C. Ford| url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleyford/how-rainbow-rowell-turned-a-bomb-into-a-best-selling-novel#.yonDr65Z1 | title=How Rainbow Rowell Turned A Bomb Into A Best-Selling Novel | publisher=BuzzFeed | website=BuzzFeed Books}} Rowell gave birth to her first son during this period and paused work on the manuscript for two years. The novel, a contemporary romantic comedy about a company's IT guy who falls in love with a woman whose email he has been monitoring, was published in 2011. Kirkus Reviews listed it as one of the outstanding debuts that year.{{cite news | url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/lists/outstanding-debuts-2011/ | title=Outstanding Debuts of 2011 | work=Kirkus Reviews | year=2011 | access-date=4 December 2013}}

In 2014, Rowell published Landline, a contemporary adult novel about a marriage in trouble.{{cite web |author=Maslin, Janet |date=9 July 2014 |title=Marriage Gone Sour? Go Home to Ma Bell - In Rainbow Rowell's 'Landline,' Magic May Fix Things |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/books/in-rainbow-rowells-landline-magic-may-fix-things.html |access-date=18 October 2015 |work=New York Times}}

In August 2023, Rowell sold the future publishing rights of four adult novels to William Morrow and Company.{{Cite web |last=Deahl {{!}} |first=Rachel |title=Book Deals: Week of August 14, 2023 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/92956-book-deals-week-of-august-14-2023.html |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}} The first, titled Slow Dance, was released in July 2024.{{Cite web |last=Beauregard |first=Megan |date=2024-07-22 |title=Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell {{!}} BookTrib. |url=https://booktrib.com/2024/07/22/rainbow-rowells-slow-dance-a-charming-second-chance-romance/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |language=en-US}} Rowell's next novel, Cherry Baby, will be released in spring 2026.{{Cite web |title='Eleanor and Park' Author Rainbow Rowell Is Back With Her ‘Most Ambitious’ Novel To Date— See the Cover! (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/rainbow-rowell-to-publish-most-ambitious-novel-cherry-baby-exclusive-11752597 |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=People.com |language=en}}

In 2012, Rowell published the young adult novel, Eleanor & Park. This and her other novel Fangirl were both named by The New York Times as among the best young adult fiction of the year.{{cite news | url=http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/what-are-the-best-things-youve-read-watched-heard-or-played-this-year/?_r=0 | title=What Are the Best Things You've Read, Watched, Heard or Played This Year? | work=The New York Times | date=December 4, 2013 | access-date=4 December 2013 | author=Schulten, Katherine}} Eleanor & Park was also chosen by Amazon as one of the 10 best books of 2013,{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2013/11/07/book-buzz/3466201/ | title=Amazon releases its 10 best books of 2013 | work=USA Today | date=November 7, 2013 | access-date=4 December 2013 | author=Deutsch, Lindsay}} and it also won as Goodreads' best young adult fiction of the year.{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/goodreads-best-books-in-every-genre-2013-12 | title=The Best New Books Of The Year, According To Goodreads | work=Business Insider | date=December 3, 2013 | access-date=4 December 2013 | author=Willett, Megan}} In 2014, DreamWorks optioned Eleanor & Park, and Rowell worked on a screenplay, but in 2016, Rowell said the option timed out and the rights reverted to her.{{cite news|url=http://downriversundaytimes.com/2014/04/27/celebrity-extra-248|title=Celebrity Extra|last=Elavsky|first=Cindy|publisher=King Features|date=27 April 2014|access-date=10 July 2014}}{{Cite web|date=2016-09-12|title='Eleanor & Park' movie isn't happening, says Rainbow Rowell|url=https://www.hypable.com/rainbow-rowell-says-eleanor-and-park-movie-isnt-happening/|access-date=2019-02-19|website=Hypable|language=en-US}} In 2019, it was announced that Picturestart had acquired the film rights, with Rowell writing the screenplay and executive producing.{{Cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|date=2019-05-14|title=Picturestart, Plan B Team For Film Adaptation Of Rainbow Rowell Bestseller 'Eleanor & Park'|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/eleanor-and-park-movie-rainbow-rowell-picturestart-plan-b-1202614818/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}

Rowell's work garnered some negative attention in 2013 when a parents' group at a Minnesota high school challenged Eleanor & Park and Rowell was disinvited to a library event; a panel ultimately determined that the book could stay on library shelves.{{cite news | url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/books/233110011.html | title=Challenged book to stay on Anoka High library shelves | work=The Star Tribune | date=November 22, 2013 | access-date=4 December 2013 | author=Prather, Shannon}} Rowell noted in an interview that the material that these parents were calling "profane" was what many kids in difficult situations realistically had to deal with, and that "when these people call Eleanor & Park an obscene story, I feel like they’re saying that rising above your situation isn’t possible."{{cite news | url=http://the-toast.net/2013/09/17/chat-rainbow-rowell-love-censorship/ | title=A Chat With Rainbow Rowell About Love and Censorship | work=The Toast | date=September 14, 2013 | access-date=4 December 2013 | author=Ortberg, Mallory}}

In 2013, Rowell published the young adult novel Fangirl about Cath, a college freshman who writes fan fiction of a fictional book series about Simon Snow, a young mage at a magical school. It was influenced by the popularity of fan fiction of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.{{Cite web|title = Rainbow Rowell Says Carry On Isn't Fanfiction, It's Canon|url = http://www.tor.com/2015/02/20/rainbow-rowell-carry-on-fantasy-tropes-harry-potter-fanfiction/|website = Tor.com|date = 20 February 2015|access-date = 2015-10-10}}

In 2020, it was announced that Fangirl would receive a four-part manga adaptation, adapted by Sam Maggs and illustrated by Gabi Nam.{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=2020-03-31 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/rainbow-rowell-fangirl-manga-adaptation/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}

Rowell created a trilogy of novels based on the characters from Cath's fan fiction in Fangirl. Her 2015 novel Carry On shares a title with the popular fan fiction story Cath wrote in Fangirl. In the novel, Simon Snow, in his eighth year at school, comes to terms with his calling as the Chosen One meant to destroy the Insidious Humdrum, a magical force destroying the world of mages. He embarks on his quest with his best friend Penelope and his girlfriend Agatha, all the while "struggling" with Tyrannus Basilton "Baz" Grimm-Pitch, his vampire "nemesis." Rowell's Simon Snow trilogy was completed with the 2019 novel Wayward Son and 2021's Any Way the Wind Blows.

In January 2014, Rowell signed a two-book deal with First Second Books to author two young adult graphic novels, the first of which was illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks and released on August 27, 2019.{{cite web |last1=Brissey |first1=Breia |date=January 30, 2014 |title=Rainbow Rowell signs two-book deal with First Second -- EXCLUSIVE |url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2014/01/30/rainbow-rowell-signs-two-book-deal-first-second-exclusive/ |access-date=12 August 2014}}{{Cite web |title=Pumpkinheads |url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/42907220-pumpkinheads |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Goodreads |language=en}}

Rowell has also written for Marvel Comics. Between 2017 and 2021, Rowell wrote Runaways, and from 2022 to 2024 wrote She-Hulk.{{Cite web |author1=Chris Arrant |date=2021-08-06 |title=Runaways grinds to a halt with surprise cancellation by Marvel |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/runaways-grinds-to-a-halt-with-surprise-cancellation-by-marvel/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Chappell |first=Caitlin |date=2022-10-13 |title=REVIEW: Marvel's She-Hulk: Jen, Again |url=https://www.cbr.com/she-hulk-jen-again-vol-1-review/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=CBR |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2024-06-18 |title=Marvel Cancels Sensational She-Hulk With #10 |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/marvel-cancels-sensational-she-hulk-with-10/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}} In 2025, Rowell returned to Marvel for a five issue limited series of Runaways.{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=2025-03-05 |title=‘Runaways’ returns with five-issue series from Rainbow Rowell and Elena Casagrande |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2025/03/05/runaways-five-june-2025/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=AIPT |language=en-US}}

Rowell lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband and two sons.{{cite web|last1=Rowell|first1=Rainbow|url=http://www.rainbowrowell.com/about/|website=About — Rainbow Rowell|title=She lives in Nebraska with her husband and two sons.}} She has a sister named Jade and a half sister, Abby, who owns a popular local coffee chain in Omaha, NE.{{Cite book|last=Rowell|first=Rainbow|title=Attachments|publisher=Plume|year=2011|isbn=9781101476345|location=United States of America|pages=333}}

• Eleanor & Park (2012)
• Fangirl (2013)
• Simon Snow Series
• Carry On (2015)
• Wayward Son (2019)
• Any Way the Wind Blows (2021)

• Attachments (2011)
• Landline (2014)
• Slow Dance (2024)

• Almost Midnight (2017): Compilation of two short stories: "Midnights" and "Kindred Spirits.
• Scattered Showers (2022)

• "Midnights", My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories, ed. Stephanie Perkins (2014){{cite web|url=http://www.rainbowrowell.com/my-true-love-gave-to-me|title=My True Love Gave To Me|website=www.rainbowrowell.com|access-date=October 27, 2015}}
• Kindred Spirits (World Book Day Edition) (2016)
• The Prince and the Troll (2020)
• If the Fates Allow (2021)

• Runaways, illustrated by Kris Anka (2017-2021)
• Pumpkinheads, illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks (2019)
• She-Hulk, illustrated by Rogê Antônio (2022-2024)
• "The Kid's Got a Good Eye", illustrated by Olivier Coipel, in Amazing Fantasy 1000 (2022)
• Runaways, illustrated by Elena Casagrande (2025)

{{reflist |25em}}

{{Portal|Children and Young Adult Literature}}

• [http://rainbowrowell.com/ Rainbow Rowell's Official Website]
• {{LCAuth|n2010058327|Rainbow Rowell|4|}}

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Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American novelists

Category:American children's writers

Category:American women novelists

Category:American writers of young adult literature

Category:Marvel Comics writers

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Writers from Nebraska

Category:21st-century American women writers

Category:1973 births

Category:American women children's writers

Category:American women writers of young adult literature

Category:American women science fiction and fantasy writers