Gail Upchurch is a writer of young adult and adult fiction. She holds a Ph.D. from Binghamton University’s creative writing program (SUNY), an MFA in creative writing with an emphasis in fiction from Chicago State University, and a BA in English from Howard University (HU! You know!). Gail has received support from the Highlights Foundation and has short stories forthcoming in The Missouri Review and Obsidian: Journal & Ideas in the African Diaspora. She is currently at work on a young adult novel about a disabled teenage abortion survivor, the boy with whom she falls in love, and the power of choice. Originally from the south side of Chicago, Gail now lives in Maryland with three kiddos and a hubs. When she’s not making up stories, she plays the piano really, really badly, eats cheesy snacks, and teaches African American literature, creative writing, and composition at the University of Maryland, College Park. You can find Gail at gailupchurchwriter.com and on Twitter @upchurch_gail.