TWO BLOCKBUSTER YA AUTHORS: Melissa de la Cruz (The Queen’s Assassin duology, The Descendants series, Alex & Eliza) and Margaret Stohl (Black Widow Forever Red, Beautiful Creatures) combine their star power in order to pursue a passion project. Together, the two friends co-founded the festival YALLWEST. Margie also co-founded YALLFEST, where Mel serves as co-director



RETELLING OF TWO CLASSIC NOVELS: Generations of kids (and adults!) all over the world have read and adored these two stories. Mel and Margie’s reimagined mashup expands on the characters that readers cherish by reimagining them as angsty teens. 



NEW FILM ADAPTATION: The newest film adaptation of The Secret Garden, starring Colin Firth, was released in 2020. The New York Times remarked that the story was “as lovely as you remember.” 



COMMERICAL APPETITE FOR REVISITING FAMOUS LOVE STORIES: With the success of books like the New York Times bestseller These Violent Delights (a retelling of Romeo and Juliet) by Chloe Gong and Of Curses and Kisses (a Beauty and the Beast retelling) by Sandhya Menon, it’s clear teen and crossover readers are eager to see their favorite romances told in fresh, new ways.

Margaret Stohl is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has been published in fifty countries and thirty-two languages and has sold more than ten million books worldwide. She has published fifteen novels and graphic novels, as well as contributed to several games and countless comics since her debut. Learn more at mstohl.com and follow Margie on Twitter @mstohl and on Instagram @margaret_stohl.

Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publisher’s Weekly and #1 IndieBound bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. Her books have topped USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and have been published in more than twenty countries with over ten million copies in print. Her latest books include Never After, a middle grade fairytale series and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Road Trip. Melissa de la Cruz lives in West Hollywood with her husband and daughter.

Author Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Praise for A Secret Princess:

“Surprising and romantic.” —Book Riot

“Stohl and de la Cruz imbue this escapist plot and heady romance with Victorian charm, picturesque villas, and idyllic atmosphere for fans of the original texts.” —Publishers Weekly

“Readers nostalgic for Burnett’s Victorian world will enjoy this adaptation.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Borrowing from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s well-known stories, Stohl and de la Cruz breath fresh life into the narrative.” —Booklist

“A charming mash-up of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved classics A Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy . . . Will keep readers, especially fans of Burnett’s work, turning pages to see just how these distinct characters can define their futures.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“It is refreshing to see diversity in the cast; Sara is Filipino and Cedric experiences seizures; their identities allow Stohl and de la Cruz to bring discussions of wealth, racism, and physical ailments to light in the 1860s.” —School Library Journal