Aileen grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. She’s been an avid writer and reader since her childhood. She loves books! Any trip to a new place has to include a stop at check out the local library! Despite her love of libraries Aileen owns far too many books but she will readily tell you, “If it’s books, it’s not hoarding.”

Aileen and her wife live in Washington, DC with their son and their spoiled adopted Pittie named Wink, who arrived as a foster and never left. When Aileen is not working, writing, or cheering on fellow writers, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies and theater, and playing with her collectibles. In the summertime, you can find them all hiking in the Green Mountains of Vermont to work off eating too much Jasper Hill cheese.

Aileen was selected as a 2023 Literary YA Fellow in the Lambda Literary Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices. 

Aileen earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA).

Aileen believes in the power of laughter. And that her superpower is her smile.