Kat Helgeson is a Chicago-based author of novels for young adults. She is a 1980’s cake walk champion and claims a career total of 2 points scored during regulation basketball, and she’s undefeated at Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. Having retired from the circus at age fourteen, she now creates content for social media channels by day and writes by night. Kat lives with her husband, her dog, and a healthy preoccupation with fictional characters.
Kat’s debut, GENA/FINN (Chronicle, Spring 2016), is a Young Adult contemporary novel. Gena and Finn (short for Stephanie) have little in common. But they share a passion for Up Below, a buddy cop TV show with a cult fan following. The pair spark an unlikely online friendship that deepens quickly (so quickly it scares them both), and as their individual “real” lives begin to fall apart, they increasingly seek shelter online, and with each other.
Fun facts:
- Childhood aspiration: Astronaut
- Book currently reading/most recently read: A HISTORY OF GLITTER AND BLOOD by Hannah Moskowitz
- Favorite sports teams: Illinois State University Redbird Basketball
- Greatest thing about being a 2016 debut author: Having a book out the same year as the Olympics and knowing it will be VASTLY more popular
Where to find her:
The Sweet Sixteens 
Best bio. I am all kinds of excited for GENA/FINN.
Thanks, Marisa!!