Writer / Director Cecil Castellucci’s first young adult novel, “Boy Proof” came out spring 2005 on Candlewick Press.It was named a Booksense 76 Children’s Pick, BBYA 2006 and a Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers by the American Library Association (ALA). In 2005 she was also named a Flying Start by Publisher’s Weekly.She also received an Honorable Mention in PW’s annual cuffie awards as Most Promising New Author.Her second novel “The Queen of Cool”came out in February 2006 and will be followed in May 2007 by her third novel “Beige”, both also on Candlewick Press.  Her first Graphic Novel “The Plain Janes” will come out in May 2007 on the new DC Comics Minx imprint.  She has also previously published stories in the Los Angeles Times Kids Reading Room and is an active Read Aloud volunteer at Mayberry Elementary School in Echo Park.
Performances pieces that she has written and conceived of include; “The Shirt and Other Awkward Stories”, “The Ladies Room”, “My Heart, The Whore”, “Seven Women/Seven Sins” and “Dear Friend.”Her latest piece, “Spinster”, a collaboration with author / performer Jen Sincero was performed in October 2005.
She has participated in the Lincoln Center Directors Lab West and the Banff Centre for the Arts “Writing with Style” program and had both writing and directing assistantships at the Taper. Cecil was a founding member of the Alpha 60 film club. Alpha 60 was a club dedicated to discovering narrative voice and encouraging creative endeavors in film.She volunteers as an Alternative Screen Programmer at the American Cinematheque.She has also been a field producer on MTV’s Big Urban Myth Show and was Director of Recreating Radio at the Museum of Television and Radio. Recently she wrote and directed her first feature film “Happy Is Not Hard To Be.” It debuted in Los Angeles at the Alternative Screen series at the Egyptian Theatre.

Among other creative pursuits, she is an indie rock musician, performing under the name Nerdy Girl and Cecil Seaskull. With two CD’s under her belt, and many tours across the US and Canada, she participated in musical festivals from CMJ to SXSW and Canadian Music Week. Her songs have charted on college radio and been used on television shows and independent films. 

Some of the grants she has been awarded include an Explorations Film Grant from the Canada Council and the PAFPS Grant from the National Film Board of Canada. Cecil was also awarded a Hero in Education 2001 from the California State Lottery. She grew up in New York City where she attended the Laguardia High School of the Performing Arts in New York City and later studied at theatre in Paris at the Ecole Florent. She received a B.F.A. in Film Production at Concordia University in Montreal.