Jonathan LaPoma is an award-winning, bestselling author, optioned screenwriter, songwriter, and poet based in San Diego, CA. He's written five independently published novels, thirteen screenplays that have won over 160 awards/honors in various screenwriting competitions, and hundreds of songs and poems.

LaPoma's novels Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story and Understanding the Alacrán are both #1 Amazon Bestsellers, outselling authors such as Neil Gaiman, Kurt Vonnegut, Michael Crichton, and Paulo Coelho on the Kindle store. His books have been recommended by Kirkus Reviews and Barnes & Noble (B&N Press Presents selection), and they've won awards in the 2015 Stargazer Literary Prizes and the 2016 and 2017 Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Awards. His black comedy screenplay Harm for the Holidays was optioned by Warren Zide along with Wexlfish Pictures (American Pie, Final Destination, The Big Hit) in July 2017. LaPoma usually writes character-driven dramas that are equal parts dark and humorous, and his work often explores themes of alienation and misery as human constructions that can be overcome through self-understanding and the acceptance of suffering.

Also, since 2005, LaPoma has taught in over fifteen public schools in New York, Florida, and California.

LaPoma enjoys helping new authors overcome their fears and doubts so they can write the books they’re inspired to write.

Jonathan LaPoma

Bestselling Author and Secondary Teacher

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