Chicago author Kate Hannigan writes fiction and non-fiction for young readers. A former newspaper journalist, she loves listening to people's stories and digging deep into research. Look for her historical fiction debut, "The Detective's Assistant," publishing April 7, 2015, with Little Brown. Inspired by the exploits of America's first female detective, Kate Warne, it features nail-biting suspense and exhilarating thrills - along with history around Abraham Lincoln and pre-Civil War America.Kate is the author of the early middle-grade series "Cupcake Cousins" (Disney/Hyperion), set in the sleepy Michigan beach town of Saugatuck. Book 2 in the series publishes in June 2015. Visit Kate online at www.KateHannigan.com.