Maggie Stiefvater

The Maggie Stiefvater keynotes examine the concept and consequences of labels of individuals in a binary manner, as either good or bad. Stiefvater believes there is no set definition of what makes an individual bad or labelled in a certain way, as it is based solely on the perception of others. As a bestselling American author of young adult and teenager-oriented fantasy novels, Stiefvater has made a career off her novels that feature misunderstood and complex characters. Her publications include the 'Book of Faerie' novels, 'The Wolves of Mercy Falls' series, and The Raven Cycle, all of which have gained notable media attention.

With regards to her educational background, Stiefvater earned a bachelor of arts in history from the Mary Washington College and after graduating made a name for herself specializing in equestrian art. Using her own teenager year experiences and lesson learned, Stiefvater understands what it is like to be labelled different and credits her success and stardom on this fact. Throughout the Maggie Stiefvater keynotes, she stresses the need for society to be careful when labeling teenagers, as they are the leaders of the future and behind their deviance is untapped brilliance.