Tucson Festival of Books

Julie Leong (she/her)


Julie Leong is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of "The Teller of Small Fortunes" and "The Keeper of Magical Things." The daughter of Malaysian Chinese immigrants, she studied economics and political science at Yale University, and currently works in tech. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, dog, and citrus trees, and when she’s not writing, enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things.

Visit website | Bluesky Instagram

Communities: LGBTQ+, Asian American


Scheduled events:
How To Heal a Heart
What does it cost to love when you've been broken? Join authors Julie Leong, Jennifer Lambert and Alix Harrow as they discuss crafting relationships that simmer and ache, the art of emotional intimacy, and why sometimes the slowest burns leave the deepest marks.

Student Union Sabino (Seats 87)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Alix Harrow, Jennifer Lambert, Julie Leong
Moderator: Victoria Salajko
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Joan and Adrian Van Loozenoord
Julie Leong
Julie Leong signing with Stacks Book Club

Stacks Book Club LLC, Booth #228 (Seats 1)
Sat, Mar 14, 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror

Author: Julie Leong
Magic, Misfits and Connection
Join Jenn Lyons, Vanessa Vida Kelley and Julie Leong as they explore how they cast misfits and why the best transformations happen when we stop trying to belong and start building our own spaces. These stories celebrate characters who refuse to accept the boxes the world tries to put them in.

Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Venessa Vida Kelley, Julie Leong, Jenn Lyons
Moderator: Katherine Morter
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Bourn Companies
Laughing Along the Way
Not every story needs to be grim to have weight. Sometimes the best way to explore big ideas is with a wink and a laugh. In this session, three masters of wit: Edward Ashton, Julie Leong and John Scalzi, will discuss the art of weaving humor into speculative fiction without losing emotional stakes or narrative tension.

Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Edward Ashton, Julie Leong, John Scalzi
Moderator: Vickie Lan
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Bourn Companies, Jean Orrico

Books:
The Keeper of Magical Things
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Penguin Group
October 2025
ISBN 9780593815946
368 pages
Buy now

An almost-mage discovers friendship—and maybe something more—in the unlikeliest of places in this delightfully charming novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Teller of Small Fortunes. More/less

The Teller of Small Fortunes
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Penguin Publishing Group
November 2024
ISBN 9780593815915
336 pages
Buy now

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. More/less