Meet Michele Kwasniewski, author of YA fiction series, “The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart”
After graduating from Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Technical Theater, Michele Kwasniewski spent over fifteen years in film and television production. Starting out as a film set assistant on movies such as INDEPENDENCE DAY, FACE/OFF, PRIMAL FEAR, and EVITA, Michele eventually switched to the small screen and worked her way up the ladder to production manager, gaining experience on television shows such as BIG BROTHER, ADOPTION STORIES, EXTRA YARDAGE and MEET THE PANDAS. She is also a proud member of the Producers Guild of America. Michele’s colorful experiences in the industry inspired her to write THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART series. Michele lives in San Clemente, California with her husband, their son, and their disobedient dachshund.
Awards for The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart Series
2023
Pencraft Seasonal Book Awards
Winner – Best Young Adult Book of Winter
Burning Bright Book Two of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Independent Excellence Awards
Finalist – Best Performing Arts Book
Falling Star Book Three of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Finalist – Best Book in Teen Fiction
Falling Star Book Three of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Eric Hoffer Awards
Finalist
Burning Bright Book Two of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Hawthorne Awards
Short List
Falling Star Book Three of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
2022
International Book Awards
Finalist – Young Adult Fiction
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
The Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards (IAN)
Finalist – First Novel (Over 80,000 Words)
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Finalist – General Fiction
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
American Writing Awards
Winner – Performing Arts
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Finalist – Best New (Debut) Fiction
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Finalist – Fiction – General
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Finalist – Young Adult
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Royal Dragonfly Awards
2nd Place – Fiction: Novel
Burning Bright Book Two of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Honorable Mention – Fiction: Novel
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
1st Place – General Fiction
Burning Bright Book Two of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
2nd Place – General Fiction
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
1st Place TIE – Young Adult Fiction
Burning Bright Book Two of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
AND
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
Dante Rossetti Book Award For Young Fiction
Short List
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
AND
Burning Bright Book Two of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart
2021
Best Book Awards
Finalist – Young Adult
Rising Star Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart