Padma Venkatraman is the author of three award-winning, critically acclaimed novels: A TIME TO DANCE, ISLAND’S END and CLIMBING THE STAIRS. All three were released to three or more starred reviews (accruing a total of 12 starred reviews), and all three were ALA/Yalsa Best Books, Booklist Editor’s Choices, and CCBC choices, in addition to winning several other awards (Paterson Prize, Sanoc/SABA, BAC Julia Ward Howe award, ASTAL RI Book of the year etc.) and multiple honors (ALA Notable, Kirkus Best Book, Booklist Best Book, New York Public Library Best Book, Bank Street College of Education Best Book, and so on).

Padma Venkatraman is an American and lives in Rhode Island, USA, with her family. She has participated on panels at Harvard and other universities; was an invited guest at book festivals such as the international PEN World Voices Festival; has provided commencement speeches at schools and keynote addresses at numerous conferences, including at the Caribbean Beach Pen Literary Festival in Trinidad, where she was the chief guest. Her work has been featured nationally and internationally on TV and radio.

Padma Venkatraman turned to writing after obtaining a doctorate in oceanography at the College of William and Mary and conducting post-doctoral research in Environmental Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.