Here are 7 Author Shoutouts for this week. Find your favorite author or discover an author whose work you’ve not yet read.
Support Independent Bookstores.
Find our Author Shoutouts on bookshop.org at LitStack Author Shoutouts.
This Week’s Author Shoutouts
Holly Black
An Author Shoutout to Holly Black who has cast a spell over the fantasy genre with her dark, contemporary tales. A master of modern folklore, her books are known for their intricate worlds, morally gray characters, and a captivating edge that keeps readers hooked.
Black’s most famous work is the international sensation The Folk of the Air series, which began with The Cruel Prince. This series introduced readers to the complex and irresistible world of Faerie and an iconic enemies-to-lovers romance. Black has made her mark on the young adult genre with her novels The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing, which won the Goodreads Choice Awards.
With a childhood spent in a decrepit Victorian house, Black has a long-standing fascination with the strange and the magical. This has translated into a body of work that includes the beloved children’s series The Spiderwick Chronicles and her adult novel, Book of Night. Whether she’s writing about Fae princes or shadow magic, Holly Black’s novels consistently challenge readers to look beneath the surface, revealing the dark and complicated truths that lie just beyond our world.
Tamsyn Muir
An Author Shoutout to Tamsyn Muir, a New Zealand author who has become one of the most exciting and original voices in modern fantasy. She’s a multi-award-winning writer, celebrated for her unique genre-bending style, dark humor, and a narrative voice unlike any other.
Muir’s most famous work is The Locked Tomb series, a science fantasy saga that has gained a devoted cult following. This high-concept series, which began with Gideon the Ninth, is a masterful blend of necromancy, sword fighting, and space travel. Her novels are known for their unconventional narrative choices, including a second-person perspective in Harrow the Ninth, which challenges readers in the most rewarding way.
A former teacher and a prolific fanfiction writer, Muir has a deep appreciation for storytelling and a knack for genre parody. She credits her background in online fandom with giving her the tools to experiment with different writing styles. As a lesbian writer, she also consciously includes queer and diverse representation, creating a world where, as she says, “every girl could possibly hook up with every other girl.”
With a style that is both academically sharp and full of irreverent humor, Tamsyn Muir has cemented her place as a fresh and fiercely original voice in speculative fiction.
Andrea Hairston
An Author Shoutout to Andrea Hairston, an acclaimed author, playwright, and professor who has a unique talent for blending fantasy, science fiction, and history. Her work is celebrated for its intricate world-building and its profound exploration of culture, memory, and art.
Before she became a full-time novelist, Hairston was and continues to be a distinguished professor of theater and Africana studies. This background is a central influence on her writing, which she describes as a “sci-fi carnival jam,” filled with a sense of rhythm, performance, and vibrant energy.
Her award-winning novel Redwood and Wildfire is a rich historical fantasy that tells the story of African-American and Indigenous American performers at the turn of the 20th century. Hairston uses speculative fiction as a powerful tool to unearth and celebrate the “untold stories” and “lost histories” of people of color.
A recipient of a MacArthur Genius Fellowship, Hairston’s work is as intellectually rich as it is imaginative. She has a gift for crafting novels that not only transport readers to new worlds but also prompt them to consider the power of art as a means of survival and resistance. With a style that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, Andrea Hairston is a truly singular voice in contemporary speculative fiction.
Yume Kitasei
An Author Shoutout to Yume Kitasei, a Japanese-American author who has quickly become a notable new voice in science fiction. Her work, celebrated for its unique blend of classic sci-fi tropes and modern, character-driven storytelling, has earned her critical acclaim and a spot on “best of” lists.
Kitasei’s debut novel, The Deep Sky, is a high-stakes space opera and a gripping closed-circle mystery set on a generation starship. Named one of the best sci-fi novels of 2023 by The Washington Post, the book masterfully explores complex themes such as climate change, gender dynamics, and generational trauma.
Growing up between two cultures, Kitasei’s own background is reflected in her stories, which often reside in the space between different perspectives. Before becoming an author, she worked at Princeton and has been open about her writing journey, which began in childhood as a way to cope with a fear of the dark.
Her second novel, The Stardust Grail, is a science-fiction heist story with an anti-colonial theme, showcasing her versatility and talent for crafting both tense thrillers and character-focused narratives. With a style that is both intellectually rich and deeply human, Yume Kitasei is a dynamic and exciting new talent in the world of speculative fiction.
Hester Fox
An Author Shoutout to Hester Fox, an American author who has a gift for weaving dark, gothic tales from the fabric of New England’s past. A master of atmospheric historical fiction, her novels are celebrated for their authentic detail and chilling supernatural elements.
With a master’s degree in historical archaeology and a background in museum work, Fox brings a unique expertise to her writing. She draws inspiration from the very places she writes about, from old cemeteries to historic houses, creating a sense of history that feels both tangible and haunting.
Fox is a lifelong New Englander, and her deep connection to the region is evident in her novels. Her debut, The Witch of Willow Hall, is a gothic fantasy that delves into the history of the Salem witch trials. She has since written several other books, including The Widow of Pale Harbor and The Orphan of Cemetery Hill, which continue her exploration of forgotten histories and the supernatural.
A “pantser” who prefers to let her stories unfold organically, Fox begins with a historical place that captures her imagination and builds her narrative from there. With a style that is both historically meticulous and spellbinding, Hester Fox has cemented her place as a leading voice in modern gothic fiction.
Ottessa Moshfegh
An Author Shoutout to Ottessa Moshfegh, an American author who has carved out a distinct and celebrated place in contemporary literature. Known for her unsparingly honest and often darkly humorous portrayal of isolated and unlikeable characters, her work is a masterful exploration of the weirdness of the human body and the inner lives of her protagonists.
Moshfegh’s debut novel, Eileen, a gripping psychological thriller, was a critical success, earning her a Booker Prize shortlisting. However, it was her subsequent novel, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, that became a cultural phenomenon and a New York Times bestseller. This novel follows a young, wealthy woman who attempts to sleep for a year to escape her life. Her novel Lapvona came out in 2023.
A former music student, Moshfegh has since become a prominent literary figure, with her work appearing in prestigious publications like The New Yorker and The Paris Review. She also co-wrote the screenplay for the film Causeway, which stars Jennifer Lawrence.
With a style that is both grotesque and meticulous, Moshfegh writes with a fierce intelligence that pulls the reader deep into the minds of her characters. Her novels are not for the faint of heart, but for those who appreciate unflinching honesty and a unique literary voice, she is a writer to be celebrated.
James Islington
An Author Shoutout to James Islington, an Australian author who has become a prominent voice in epic fantasy, celebrated for his intricate world-building and meticulously crafted plots. His journey to becoming a full-time author is a testament to the power of the self-publishing community.
His most famous work, The Licanius Trilogy, began with his self-published debut, The Shadow of What Was Lost. Its runaway success earned him a major publishing deal and a dedicated global fanbase. The trilogy is praised for its complex magic system and sophisticated time-travel plot, a feat made possible by his detailed planning process.
Before becoming an author, Islington ran a tech startup. His analytical mindset is evident in his writing, as he is a “plotter” who creates a detailed “skeleton” of his stories before he begins to write. This careful approach is what allows him to weave such complex narratives without a single loose thread.
Islington’s latest series, The Hierarchy, which began with The Will of the Many, is a dark academia fantasy inspired by ancient Rome. This new work showcases his versatility and his willingness to stretch himself creatively. With his ability to craft both breathtaking action and mind-bending plots, James Islington has cemented his place as an essential author for fans of intelligent and compelling epic fantasy.
Other LitStack Resources
Be sure to look at other Author Shoutouts, a weekly feature on LitStack, and be sure and support independent bookstores – buy a book today at LitStack Bookshop, with tons of author titles.
Support Independent Bookstores.
You can find our Author Shoutouts on bookshop.org at LitStack Author Shoutouts.
As a Bookshop, Malaprop’s, BAM, Barnes & Noble, Audiobooks.com, Amazon, and Envato affiliate, LitStack may earn a commission at no cost to you when you purchase products through our affiliate links.
