Candice Iloh

Candice Iloh is the award-winning author of young adult novels, Every Body Looking, Break This House, and Salt the Water. A 2020 National Book Award Finalist and 2021 Printz Honoree, Iloh is a first-generation Nigerian-American writer whose books center home. In 2018, they were awarded a Critical Breaks residency with Hi-ARTS to develop and perform a one-night-only stage production of ADA: On Stage, a multi-media one-person-show, introducing the audience to in-progress themes of their now critically-acclaimed debut novel. They are a proud alum of the Rhode Island Writers Colony and their work has earned fellowships from Lambda Literary, VONA, Kimbilio Fiction, The PEW Center for Arts & Heritage, and most recently, Leeway Foundation for the 2024 Transformation Award. Iloh is a former high school creative writing teacher who has previously taught young people of every age, from pre-K through high school. Their debut picture, Emeka Eat Egusi, released in 2026.

• Novels-in-verse
• Poetry 
• Contemporary fiction
• Africana studies

• Creative Writing for Young People
• Contemporary Fiction
• Black Homes

• Lesley University, MFA in Creative Writing for Young People, 2017
• Howard University, BA in Public Relations, 2010

• Faculty in Popular Fiction, University of Southern Maine (2025-2026)
• Lecturer of Nontraditional Writing for Young People, University of Pennsylvania (2024-2026)
• Writer in Residence, Bronx Academy of Letters (2016-2019)

• Michael L. Printz Award Honor, 2021 & 2024
• National Book Award Finalist, 2020

• EMEKA, EAT EGUSI! (Simon & Schuster 2026) - Junior Library Guild Pick
• Salt the Water (Dutton/Penguin Random House 2023) - Printz Honor
• Break This House (Dutton/Penguin Random House 2022) - Junior Library Guild Pick
• Every Body Looking (Dutton/Penguin Random House 2020) - NBA Finalist, Printz Honor