A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

Save the Date


Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 16, 2026

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Corey Ann Haydu

Featured Title: The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene
The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene

In this poignant, magical tale by the acclaimed author of Eventown, two girls find themselves dropped into each other’s world—and must face down dragons they’ve only imagined.

Auden “Denny” Greene is happiest with her friend Runa, creating stories set in their imaginary land of Sorrowfeld, where princesses rule and cursed dragons are a constant danger. But now that they are turning twelve, Runa seems ready to give up on the magic of Sorrowfeld just when Denny needs it the most…

Princess Auden is the last remaining princess of Sorrowfeld—and on her twelfth birthday, she will be expected to vanquish the dragons that took her family. Only, when a swarm attacks her birthday celebration, all she can do is run…

But suddenly. Auden is in Denny’s world. And Denny is in Auden’s.

The two Audens have switched places. No one but them has any idea. And now, each girl must come into her own power in order to fight the other’s dragons. 

The magical beasts of Impossible Creatures meet the body-swap of Freaky Friday, set in a world as fantastical as Wicked’s Oz! 

About Corey Ann Haydu

Author and educator Corey Ann Haydu has been publishing critically acclaimed books in the young adult and children’s space since 2013, including Edgar Award Nominated “Eventown” and ALA RISE Honoree “Lawless Spaces,” as well as her recent chapter books series “Zoomi and Zoe.” Since 2019, she has been on faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in their Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program. Her adult debut novel, “Mothers and Other Strangers” comes out in March 2026.

Corey’s books have been Amazon Books of the Month, Junior Library Guild Selections, Kirkus, PW, and SLJ Best Books of the Year, BCCB Blue Ribbon Honorees, Brooklyn Public Library Best of Selections, Chicago Public Library Best of Selections, Publishers Marketplace BuzzBook Selections and more. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her family.