J. Dylan Yates

Raised on a tiny, New England peninsula, J. Dylan Yates received her BFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

THE BELIEF IN Angels, Yates’s debut novel, was written over the course of many years while she worked a number of BFA-related jobs, including waitressing, teaching, corporate training, directing, acting, producing, real estate, nursing, interior design, library science, parenting, and reluctant housewifery.

Yates’s next novel in this series, Szaja’s Story, focuses on the character created in THE BELIEF IN Angels, invites the reader back to the Ukrainian orchards of Szaja Trautman’s tragic childhood, and traces his ultimate journey to America. Szaja’s Story reveals details of his amazing survival of both the Majdanek death camp and the torpedoing of refugees aboard the Mefkura, as well as the surprising secrets he’s kept since his experiences in the post-war Parisian couture houses.

Awards include a 2018 IAN BOOK AWARD, a 2018 WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARD, the 2015 THEODOR S. GEISEL AWARD, a 2015 SAN DIEGO BOOK AWARD, a 2014 USA BEST BOOK AWARD a 2015 INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD for Literary Fiction as well as a 2015 IPPY, a 2015 KINDLE BOOK AWARD and a 2015 LEAPFROG PRESS AWARD.

Yates worked with Boulder County’s Voices for Children program as a CASA volunteer for 15 years and volunteered as a mentor with the Girls Rising program. Dylan is a member of the Women’s National Book Association of Los Angeles. She’s married and lives in San Diego.

Residency/Fellowship

2019 Creative Access Fellowship

Website

jdylanyates.com

Location

San Diego, CA USA