In honour of International Women’s Day, here is my Top 10 list of emerging female authors.
These wordy women cover multiple genres - comedy, crime, fantasy, dystopian thrillers, women’s fiction – and their novels are all kinds of awesome. It’s time you made their acquaintance.
1. Heide Goody
Heide is co-author of two comedy franchises, Clovenhoof and Oddjobs, plus a growing selection of standalone novels, including recent witchcraft novel A Spell In The Country.
2. AA Abbott
Abbott writes pulpy crime thrillers with the action flitting between Birmingham and London. She has two standalone novels, After The Interview and In The Smoke, as well as the ongoing Trail series.
3. Anna Stephens
Anna’s fantasy debut Godblind delivers on its grimdark label, with war, treachery and death in plentiful supply. There is a generous range of character perspectives to enjoy, as well as the most wince-inducing, leg-crossing torture scene since Le Chiffre went to town on Bond’s balls in Casino Royale.
4. Tamara Rogers
Tamara’s impressive debut, Grind Spark, was shortlisted for the Bath Novel Award. It is a futuristic dystopian coming-of-age story told from the perspective of an artificial child. Tamara delivers a pitch-black sense of humour and touches of inspired satire.
5. Rosalyn Kelly
Rosalyn’s epic grimdark fantasy, Melokai, contains a cast and world map worthy of Game of Thrones comparisons. Expect sex, violence and an inevitable Netflix adaptation.
6. Katharine D’Souza
D’Souza is d’queen of Birmingham women’s fiction with three marvellous novels to her name and a loyal fan base. Deeds Not Words is particularly worthy of mention today because it focuses on the Birmingham suffragette movement.
7. Rachel McCollin
Rachel launched her debut thriller Exile just two months ago, yet she is already steaming ahead with her political trilogy, A House Divided. Last week, Rachel wrote 25,000 words in just two days!
8. Natalie Morris
Natalie’s Star-Crossed is a young adult novel about two friends whose relationship begins to strain when one achieves the other’s dream of becoming a famous actor. A fabulous debut.
9. Anna Smith Spark
Anna lives up to her Twitter handle: @queenofgrimdark. The Court of Broken Knives is gruesome, bloody fantasy on a huge scale but not without a dry sense of humour and the odd dragon.
10. C J Tudor
Tudor's debut thriller The Chalk Man is a ridiculously addictive read about a group of children who discover a murdered girl in the woods and how it effects them in later years. A cross between Stand By Me and the first season of True Detective. Surprisingly funny too.
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These wordy women cover multiple genres - comedy, crime, fantasy, dystopian thrillers, women’s fiction – and their novels are all kinds of awesome. It’s time you made their acquaintance.
1. Heide Goody
Heide is co-author of two comedy franchises, Clovenhoof and Oddjobs, plus a growing selection of standalone novels, including recent witchcraft novel A Spell In The Country.
2. AA Abbott
Abbott writes pulpy crime thrillers with the action flitting between Birmingham and London. She has two standalone novels, After The Interview and In The Smoke, as well as the ongoing Trail series.
3. Anna Stephens
Anna’s fantasy debut Godblind delivers on its grimdark label, with war, treachery and death in plentiful supply. There is a generous range of character perspectives to enjoy, as well as the most wince-inducing, leg-crossing torture scene since Le Chiffre went to town on Bond’s balls in Casino Royale.
4. Tamara Rogers
Tamara’s impressive debut, Grind Spark, was shortlisted for the Bath Novel Award. It is a futuristic dystopian coming-of-age story told from the perspective of an artificial child. Tamara delivers a pitch-black sense of humour and touches of inspired satire.
5. Rosalyn Kelly
Rosalyn’s epic grimdark fantasy, Melokai, contains a cast and world map worthy of Game of Thrones comparisons. Expect sex, violence and an inevitable Netflix adaptation.
6. Katharine D’Souza
D’Souza is d’queen of Birmingham women’s fiction with three marvellous novels to her name and a loyal fan base. Deeds Not Words is particularly worthy of mention today because it focuses on the Birmingham suffragette movement.
7. Rachel McCollin
Rachel launched her debut thriller Exile just two months ago, yet she is already steaming ahead with her political trilogy, A House Divided. Last week, Rachel wrote 25,000 words in just two days!
8. Natalie Morris
Natalie’s Star-Crossed is a young adult novel about two friends whose relationship begins to strain when one achieves the other’s dream of becoming a famous actor. A fabulous debut.
9. Anna Smith Spark
Anna lives up to her Twitter handle: @queenofgrimdark. The Court of Broken Knives is gruesome, bloody fantasy on a huge scale but not without a dry sense of humour and the odd dragon.
10. C J Tudor
Tudor's debut thriller The Chalk Man is a ridiculously addictive read about a group of children who discover a murdered girl in the woods and how it effects them in later years. A cross between Stand By Me and the first season of True Detective. Surprisingly funny too.
If you would like Simon to review your book then check out his Review Policy for more information. Sign up to Simon's newsletter to hear more about his reading and writing projects.