Here are 7 Author Shoutouts for this week. Find your favorite author, or discover an author whose work you’ve not yet read.
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In This LitStack Author Shoutout
Joe Abercrombie
An Author Shoutout to Joe Abercrombie, a British author and a defining voice in the grimdark fantasy genre. Known for his brutal realism and morally ambiguous characters, his work stands as a stark departure from traditional epic fantasy.
Abercrombie’s most famous works are set in the world of The First Law, a bestselling trilogy that helped shape modern fantasy. He has since expanded this universe with multiple stand-alone novels and a new trilogy, The Age of Madness, that explores the same world during an industrial revolution. His writing style is fast-paced and character-driven, and he is a master of creating memorable, flawed, and all-too-human protagonists.
Before becoming an author, Abercrombie worked as a freelance film editor, and this experience in a visual medium is reflected in his cinematic writing style. He has also spoken about how his degree in psychology helps him create believable and complex characters. He is a testament to perseverance, having faced numerous rejections before his first book was finally published.
Abercrombie’s novels are celebrated for their dark humor and their unflinching portrayal of war and its consequences. By deconstructing classic fantasy tropes, he has created a new kind of epic that is both gritty and deeply resonant with contemporary readers.
Ken Liu
An Author Shoutout to Ken Liu, a multi-award-winning author of speculative fiction who is a true visionary in the genre. Known for his silkpunk epic fantasy and emotionally resonant short stories, Liu is a master storyteller with a remarkable range.
His most famous series, The Dandelion Dynasty, is an epic fantasy that he describes as silkpunk, a genre blending the rich history of East Asian antiquity with fantastical technology. In this world, airships are woven from silk and bamboo, and engineers are the heroes. His writing is known for its intricate plotting, grounded in his background as a former software engineer and corporate lawyer.
Liu is also a giant in the world of short fiction. His story, The Paper Menagerie, made history by becoming the first work of fiction to win the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy awards.
Beyond his own acclaimed writing, Liu is a pivotal figure in introducing contemporary Chinese science fiction to the West. He famously translated Cixin Liu’s Hugo Award-winning novel The Three-Body Problem, opening up a new world of literature for English-speaking readers.
From his innovative silkpunk worlds to his emotionally profound short stories, Ken Liu’s work is a testament to the power of imaginative storytelling and cross-cultural exchange, making him a true icon in modern speculative fiction.
Hannah Whitten
An Author Shoutout to Hannah Whitten, an American author who has quickly become a standout voice in the dark fantasy genre. She is a master of crafting gothic retellings of classic fairy tales, weaving familiar folklore with her own unique and captivating vision. Her books, which are international bestsellers, are celebrated for their rich, atmospheric prose.
Whitten’s debut, the Wilderwood Duology, began with For the Wolf, a dark and romantic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that captivated readers and became a viral sensation. She followed this success with her new series, The Nightshade Crown, which began with The Foxglove King, a darker fantasy that delves into themes of death magic and political intrigue.
A self-described pantser, Whitten writes without a strict outline, allowing her stories to unfold organically and her characters to lead the way. She has a master’s degree in library science, and her writing is influenced by a wide range of sources, from classic myths to her own experiences growing up in the American South.
Hannah Whitten’s work stands out for its dark, poetic beauty and its honest exploration of human flaws. She is an author who consistently pushes the boundaries of the fairy tale genre, creating worlds that are both hauntingly beautiful and deeply compelling.
Thea Guanzon
An Author Shoutout to Thea Guanzon, a bestselling author from the Philippines who has taken the fantasy world by storm. Her debut, The Hurricane Wars, has solidified her as a prominent voice in the romantasy genre, blending high-stakes romance with rich, immersive world-building.
Guanzon’s journey to becoming an author is a fascinating one, beginning with writing fanfiction on legal pads during her lunch breaks. Her dedication paid off when an editor, who was a fan of her online work, reached out to her. This unique path to publication is a testament to the vibrant and interconnected nature of today’s literary community.
Her work is deeply inspired by her Filipino heritage and Southeast Asian cultures. The Hurricane Wars draws on the real-life experience of living with powerful weather in the Philippines to create a unique magic system centered on storms. Guanzon is a self-proclaimed fangirl of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and her writing is known for its atmospheric prose and a deep understanding of romantic tension.
In addition to her bestselling novels, Guanzon is a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons, a world traveler, and an iced coffee enthusiast. Her work is a celebration of her culture and her love for storytelling, making her a truly dynamic and beloved voice in modern fantasy.
Rin Chupeco
An Author Shoutout to Rin Chupeco, a nonbinary Chinese-Filipino writer known for their captivating dark fantasy and horror novels. Their unique storytelling, which blends Asian folklore with intricate world-building, has made them a prominent voice in both the young adult and adult fiction markets.
Born and raised in Manila, Chupeco’s work is heavily influenced by their heritage, weaving together elements of Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese mythology. They are a master of crafting morally complex characters and atmospheric worlds, often exploring themes of power, corruption, and justice. Their writing is lyrical and poetic, inviting readers into narratives that are both beautiful and haunting.
Chupeco’s most famous series is The Bone Witch Trilogy, a dark fantasy about a young woman who can raise the dead. More recently, they’ve ventured into adult fantasy with Silver Under Nightfall, a queer vampire-hunter story that showcases their talent for creating high-stakes plots and unforgettable characters.
As a nonbinary and pansexual writer, Chupeco consciously includes queer representation in their work, believing it is a natural and essential part of their stories. Their commitment to inclusive storytelling and their bold exploration of dark themes have cemented their place as a powerful and beloved figure in modern fantasy.
Anthony Ryan
An Author Shoutout to Anthony Ryan, a British author of epic fantasy, widely regarded as a key voice in the grimdark genre. His novels are celebrated for their gritty realism, complex characters, and unflinching portrayal of war.
Ryan’s path to becoming a bestselling author is a compelling story of perseverance. He first self-published his debut novel, Blood Song, which went on to become a viral hit in the online fantasy community. Its runaway success led to a major publishing deal, allowing him to leave his job in the British Civil Service and become a full-time writer.
His most famous work is the Raven’s Shadow series, a brutal and compelling saga that has become a staple of modern grimdark fantasy. Ryan has since expanded this world with a new trilogy, The Covenant of Steel, and also writes in other genres, including science fiction. His background as a historian is evident in his meticulous world-building, where he focuses on the realistic details of pre-modern societies and the nature of conflict.
Ryan’s novels are a masterclass in character-driven storytelling, delivering a powerful and immersive experience that has earned him a devoted global fanbase. His journey from self-published sensation to internationally bestselling author is a testament to his talent and the power of a good story.
Zen Cho
An Author Shoutout to Zen Cho, a Malaysian author who has made a name for herself in the speculative fiction world with her witty and incisive novels. Now based in the UK, she is a multi-award-winning writer celebrated for her unique blend of historical fantasy, humor, and sharp postcolonial critique.
Cho’s work often falls into what she calls “fluff for postcolonial book nerds,” a charming mix of Regency-era fantasy and thoughtful social commentary. This is perfectly showcased in her Sorcerer Royal series, which follows the adventures of England’s first African Sorcerer Royal. She has also written the contemporary fantasy novel Black Water Sister, set in her native Malaysia, and the Hugo Award-winning novella The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water.
A former lawyer, Cho’s background informs her writing with a keen eye for detail and an appreciation for intricate plotting. She draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, from classic British fantasists to Chinese wuxia stories, creating narratives that are both familiar and entirely fresh.
With her elegant prose and a talent for tackling serious themes with a light touch, Zen Cho has established herself as a truly original voice. She writes with a genuine warmth and a fierce intelligence, crafting stories that are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking.
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