Early Life and Education

Born in Washington D.C., to a Korean mother and a Jamaican father, Talia has beautiful teeth because both her parents are cosmetic dentists. Relocating to Central Jersey (which does exist and don’t ask her about her Turnpike exit because she’s too far west) when she was five years old, Talia would spend most of her life in The Garden State. Upon graduating from high school, she attended Rutgers University New Brunswick, and majored in Communication and minored in Film Studies because they had the least credit requirements. After receiving her degrees, she got another, an MA in Liberal Studies from Loyola University Maryland, because Talia makes amazing financial decisions. 

Career

Talia’s passion for writing was ignited in middle school, where she dabbled in the world of fanfiction—as repressed youths do. However, it wasn’t until a life-altering quarter-life crisis, catalyzed by a Cava-fueled conversation in Barcelona, that her best friend suggested the simple yet profound idea: “Why don’t you just write? You like that, don’t you?” And so began Talia’s journey into the world of literature.

In the years since, Talia has traveled to many countries on a whim, absorbing cultures and finding others just as chaotic as she is, as well as generally avoiding any and all responsibility and stable employment.

Her debut novel, Rules for Rule-Breaking, is set to be released by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in the spring of 2024. Her second novel, Solo Stan, releases June 10, 2025.

Personal Life

When Talia isn’t creating or consuming, she’s spending time with her family, her cats, Min-ju and Lady J, or her sleep paralysis demon, Steve.

Media Kit

The 2024 Author Media Kit includies author headshots, contact information, bios, and more. Download the zip file by clicking HERE.