Catherynne M. Valente is a writer, poet, and literary critic. She is best known for her speculative fiction novels, and for having coined the term "mythpunk."Valente has published six novels, and her stories have appeared in Clarkesworld Magazine and in anthologies.Valente was born and raised in Seattle. She attended the University of California at San Diego and Edinburgh University. She received her B.A. in Classics.