The Northwest doesn’t just have the best coffee and the greenest trees, we also seem to be a breeding ground for science fiction and fantasy authors. In addition to our plethora of local litfic and narrative nonfiction authors, genre authors are here in great numbers.
This is bound to be the beginning of a long series of posts since there are SO MANY!
In this first post I am featuring some of the rising stars in the Seattle area–writers that are just starting out or are early in their careers.
Rhiannon Held writes an urban fantasy series that draws from her work as an archaeologist that features werewolves. Start with Silver.
Ted Kosmatka works as a video game writer in the Northwest and has also written two adrenaline-fueled science fiction novels, The Games and Prophet of Bones.
Ramez Naam, who worked at Microsoft and founded Apex NanoTechnologies, has been called “the only serious successor to Michael Crichton.” Try his two near-future thrillers Nexus and Crux.
Peter Orullian lives in Seattle and writes epic fantasy. Orullian is also a musician with the metal hair to prove it. Orullian has interviewed some fantastic authors, like George R. R. Martin, as you can see here. Try The Unremembered.
J. A. Pitts of Bellevue, Washington writes an urban fantasy series featuring a lesbian blacksmith and live-action role-player Sarah Beauhall. Start with Black Blade Blues.
Jack Skillingstead’s latest novel, Life on the Preservation, was nominated for the 2013 Phillip K. Dick Award. Skillingstead lives in Seattle with his wife, science fiction writer Nancy Kress.
G. Willow Wilson has been garnering a lot of attention ever since she announced that she would be penning the Ms. Marvel comics, featuring a female Muslim American superhero in Jersey City. Try her fantasy cyber-thriller, Alif the Unseen.
This is the first of many posts, so I have some time to make sure I don’t forget anyone. Feel free to chime in with names you think that I had better not miss!
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