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Jay Asher
Asher at the 2011 Texas Book Festival
Asher at the 2011 Texas Book Festival
Born (1975-09-30) September 30, 1975 (age 49)
Arcadia, California, U.S.
Occupation Author
Genre Young adult
Years active 2007–present
Notable works Thirteen Reasons Why (2007)
Spouse Joan Marie (m. 2002 - d. Circa 2018)
Children 1

Jay Asher (born September 30, 1975) is an American writer and novelist. He is best known for writing the bestselling 2007 book Thirteen Reasons Why.

Early life

Asher was born in Arcadia, California, on September 30, 1975. He is half Jewish. He attended Cuesta Community College and later California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, before leaving during his junior year to pursue his career as a writer. Asher spent years trying to kick-start a career writing children's picture books. During this time, Asher worked at a shoe store, a trophy shop, libraries, and bookstores.

Career

Asher has published four books: Thirteen Reasons Why, a 2007 New York Times best-selling young-adult fiction novel; The Future of Us, co-written by Carolyn Mackler; What Light; and Piper. Asher has also written several picture books and middle school humor novels. Thirteen Reasons Why won several awards and received five stars from Teen Book Review. It also received high praise from Ellen Hopkins, Sherman Alexie, Chris Crutcher, and Gordon Korman.

Asher's novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, was considered for a film treatment with Selena Gomez starring. Netflix released a series based on the novel on March 31, 2017, with Gomez serving as executive producer.

Personal life

Asher married Joan Marie on September 7, 2002. Asher lives in California.

Published works

Young adult novels

  • Thirteen Reasons Why (2007)
  • The Future of Us (2011), co-written with Carolyn Mackler
    This is the story of Josh and Emma, two teenagers who used to be best friends until a huge misunderstanding. In 1996, Josh helps Emma set up her internet, only to find Facebook - before it has been invented. There, they can see themselves 15 years in the future - status updates, information, friends, etc. Using Facebook, they are able to change their destinies.
  • What Light (2016)
    Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon - it's an idyllic place for a girl to grow up, except that every year they have to pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life begins to eclipse the other.

Comics

  • Piper (2017), a graphic novel co-written with Jessica Freeburg and illustrated by Jeff Stokely

Non-fiction

  • Sunny Boy: More Than a Family Story (2017), memoirs

Adaptations

  • 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020), series developed by Brian Yorkey, based on Asher's novel Thirteen Reasons Why.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jay Asher para niños Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jay Asher para niños

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