Lily Dalloway

Official author bio for press/marketing needs:

Lily is a seventeen-year-old author from Tennessee, and The Fifth Recruit is her debut novel. When she's not busy writing (though she usually is) you can find her in Barnes and Noble, at the dance studio, or hanging out with friends and family. You can follow her writing journey and keep up with future books on YouTube @lilydallowaywrites.

The longer, more rambly bio for those of you who'd like to know more:

I'm shifting to first person now, because third is a little strange when I'm talking about myself. So… hiii, I'm Lily!! I'm so glad you're here!! 

One question I get asked a lot is: "When did you start writing?"

And boy, I wish I had a dramatic answer for that. Maybe some magical 2AM moment where I suddenly decided I was going to become an author and wrote a Shakespearean-level masterpiece. Unfortunately, my origin story is much less exciting.

I genuinely don't remember a time when storytelling wasn't a part of my life. I think my mom still has pictures of me in kindergarten and first grade, proudly creating my first "books." (They were technically three pages of scribbled nonsense stapled together, but I was committed, okay?)

I grew up in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, surrounded by forests, stories, and a lot of imagination (or nerdiness, depending on how you look at it). I've been homeschooled since second grade, which has given me the freedom to chase far too many hobbies—dance, music, art, knitting and crocheting (yes, I'm a granny, deal with it), and WAY more projects than I should admit. I also have an unreasonable love of caffeine—not a hobby, technically, but we'll count it.

For most of my childhood, though, I never really told anyone, "I want to be an author." Writing was just something I loved. It was a hobby, an escape for when life got messy, and sometimes a way to make sense of the world around me.

Then, when I was eleven years old, one of those messy, complicated seasons of life sparked an idea, and thus The Fifth Recruit was born. What started as a story I wrote just for myself became my first completed novel. Over the years, it grew into an entire trilogy—and eventually into something much bigger: Evelonia, a fictional universe spanning nearly thirteen books (which still sounds slightly ridiculous whenever I say it out loud).

I never expected anyone else to read my stories. They were just mine. But slowly, as people began discovering The Fifth Recruit and sharing how the characters, world, and message connected with them, I realized stories aren't meant to stay hidden forever.

Stories have always been the way I explore impossible questions, create places and people that feel like home, and remind myself (and hopefully others) that even in the hardest moments, there is still hope and something worth fighting for.

So, after all of that. . . here we are!! The Fifth Recruit—and Atalia's story—is only the beginning of this journey, and I cannot wait to share the rest of Evelonia—and all of the people and secrets still waiting to be revealed—with you. Because trust me: there's a LOT!!! *winks in mysterious author*

All jokes aside though, thank you so much for being here. Seriously, it means the world. I hope you find something in my stories that stays with you long after you close the book.

XOXO
-Lily