About the Author
Allyson Braithwaite Condie was born on November 2, 1971 in Cedar City, Utah. She has written the Matched Trilogy, the Yearbook Trilogy, Being Sixteen, and Freshman for President. She once taught high school English in Utah and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, 3 sons, and a daughter.
Childhood and Education
Condie was born and raised in Southern Utah. Her favorite books as a child were Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner and Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler. Her mother was an artist, and Condie was introduced to many famous poetry and paintings. She went to Brigham Young University, and got a degree in English teaching.
Matched Trilogy and Other Books
Condie has written the Matched Trilogy, the Yearbook Trilogy, Being Sixteen, and Freshman for President. The Matched Trilogy is about Cassia Reyes, who is destined to marry her best friend, Xander. She accidentally falls in love with Ky, a boy from the Outer Provinces, and when he gets sent away to die, she follows him through canyons, and they join a rebellion called the Rising. When the Rising's plan to take over the government backfires, it is up to Cassia, Ky and Xander to help get it back on track.
Family and Hobbies
Condie lives in Salt Lake City with her husband Scott, 3 sons, and a daughter. She started writing when her first son was born, and her daughter was adopted from China in February 2012. She loves writing (of course!), reading, running, and eating. She'll eat almost anything! She also loves to go the movies, but that is a rare occasion.
Fun Facts
- She still keeps her teaching license current.
- Her initials are A.B.C.
- All the books in the Matched series were published in November of consecutive years (Matched: November 2010, Crossed: November 2011, Reached: November 2012).
- She is a Mormon.
- Matched's rights were sold to over 30 countries before it was published- an incredibly rare thing to do.
- Condie's publisher from before she wrote Matched bailed out on her, and she had to find a new publisher (Dutton Penguin).
- In her opinion, she writes bad poetry.
- Her initials are A.B.C.
- All the books in the Matched series were published in November of consecutive years (Matched: November 2010, Crossed: November 2011, Reached: November 2012).
- She is a Mormon.
- Matched's rights were sold to over 30 countries before it was published- an incredibly rare thing to do.
- Condie's publisher from before she wrote Matched bailed out on her, and she had to find a new publisher (Dutton Penguin).
- In her opinion, she writes bad poetry.