LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Florida-based young adult author Michelle Angely will visit Southern Maryland on July 19, appearing at Fenwick Street Used Books & Music in Leonardtown. The event offers fans a chance to meet a rising voice in young adult fiction and spotlights an independent bookstore at the heart of the community.
Angely writes the popular “Rosenthal Academy” series, which blends action, mystery and forbidden romance with themes of resilience and found family.
“I wanted to create stories for the next generation,” she says, crediting Hermione Granger and Katniss Everdeen as early inspirations. “My characters begin in doubt and grow stronger by leaning on the people around them.”
That philosophy shapes each book. Readers encounter enemies-to-lovers tension, high-stakes twists and protagonists who discover their power. Angely describes her latest installment as “dark academia meets ‘Criminal Minds,’” a combination designed for fans who crave both adrenaline and emotional depth.
Writing has been her lifelong pursuit. She completed her first manuscript at 11 and later earned a psychology degree, which informs her character work.
“Before a major twist, I clear my space, light a candle and step into my characters’ minds,” she explains. “Authenticity makes the emotion land.”
The approach resonates. Three novels on Goodreads carry strong reviews, and readers frequently tell Angely how the stories moved them — some to tears, others to a sense of being understood.
Although based in Florida, Angely wants to build ties in Southern Maryland. Her Leonardtown stop underscores her commitment to supporting indie booksellers. She is also drafting a new paranormal romance that explores survival and domestic violence, continuing her practice of pairing real-world issues with pulse-pounding plots.
Her advice for aspiring writers is direct: “Don’t quit. My first book took years. Writing demands patience and practice, but every page is worth it.”
If her characters could speak, she adds, they would urge readers to “get back up — there’s more work to do.”
Fans of gripping romance, found family and hard-won hope will find plenty to enjoy in M. Angely’s work — and in her upcoming visit to Southern Maryland.
For more information about Angely, her books and upcoming appearances, visit mangelyauthor.com or follow her on Instagram at @m.angely_author.
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