SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Award-Winning author, E.J. Tanda lives in Northern California with her husband and three sons. Growing up, she was surrounded by a large Italian family. With a rich, cultural background guiding her writing, she weaves her heritage throughout her stories. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in English and creative writing. When she isn’t writing, she travels the globe to gain experiences for her next book.

FULL BIOGRAPHY

In one of the darkest moments of her life, E.J. Tanda sat at her desk one spring night and a story she didn’t know existed came out of her mind and onto the page. The very same night, she knew she would become a writer.

With stacks of books on her bedside table and a laptop nearby, a new world materialized. Characters talked to her. As quickly as she could, she wrote down their words like a stenographer in a courtroom. What happened that night ultimately changed the course of her career and life. A passion for writing ensued. As a way to escape, she immersed herself in her story world and Queen of Secrets was born.

E.J. Tanda grew up in San Jose, California, surrounded by a large Italian family. With a rich, cultural background guiding her writing, she weaves her heritage throughout her stories. She deftly turns the narrative on its head by flipping the emotional tone—one moment laughter, the next moment tears—and she isn’t afraid to expose the vulnerabilities of the human condition. Her books make you feel like you are a part of the family.

E.J. Tanda graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in English and creative writing. E.J. lives in California with her husband and three sons. When she isn’t writing, she travels the globe to gain experiences for her next book.

Queen of Secrets was awarded third place in the Orange County Romance Writers Book Buyers Best Contest 2023 for Mainstream Fiction with Romantic Elements and was the winner of the 2024 PenCraft Seasonal Book Award Winter Competition for Fiction-Women’s Genre.

REVIEWS

“Tanda suffuses her storytelling with heart…There are sharp, suspenseful moments when readers will clearly experience Violetta’s desperation…While the novel offers the suspense, intrigue, and even the romance you would hope for in the kickoff to a series titled “Mafia Matriarch,” historical fiction readers will appreciate Tanda’s serious handling of the Italian immigrant experience, as she draws on her own Italian heritage to paint an honest picture of the trials her community faced–while not shying away from the drama of what one character calls “The Black Hand, the Commission, Cosa Nostra. The mob. The Mafia.” – BookLife Reviews

“Queen of Secrets is an intriguing story of two generations of women and the Mafia. The author has clearly done their research on the historical aspects of the novel and crafted some strong female characters. The cliffhanger at the end leaves readers wanting to learn more about Vi and her true love.” –Judge, 31st Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.