5 Talented Authors Writing Compelling Genre Fiction

Many people escape reality by getting lost in a good book, where characters come alive through romance, mystery, horror, fantasy, and more. In no particular order, this list introduces authors who whisk their readers to another, unforgettable world.

Starting things off is T. M. Caruana, at #1. She has written numerous books, including DrakElla and The Last Wolf Fae, as well as At the Kingdoms' Fold, which she co-authored with her mother, Helene von Wachenfeldt. Caruana's work has been featured in Gibraltar Magazine and elsewhere.

Caruana also writes for children. Her rhyming book series Penelope features the protagonist's adventures on the Rock of Gibraltar. The texts showcase illustrations by the author's daughter, who is also the character's source of inspiration.

We have Fonda Lee at #2. Born and raised in Canada, Fonda is an award-winning author of science fiction and fantasy whose novels include the urban epic fantasy Green Bone Saga. She is a frequent speaker and instructor at writing workshops.

Lee's novels include Jade City, Exo, and Cross Fire. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Where the Stars Rise, and has also co-authored the comic book series Sword Master for Marvel.

Next up, at #3, is Jenna Barwin, an author of paranormal romance, science fiction, and fantasy. She is best known for her Hill Vampire series. She has a background in sound engineering, theology, and law.

Books from the Hill Vampire series have earned Crowned Hearts reviews from InD’tale Magazine. The second installment was named the 2018 Best Title by the Orange County Chapter Romance Writers of America.

At #4, we present Rebecca F. Kuang, author of The Poppy War trilogy, which won the Compton Crook and Crawford Awards for Best First Novel. It was also a finalist for the Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards.

Kuang's Poppy War series, which in addition to the eponymous novel includes The Dragon Republic and The Burning God, is a Chinese history-inspired epic fantasy with themes of empire, warfare, and shamanism.

Finally, at #5, we have Valerie Valdes. A graduate of the University of Miami, she also completed a writers' workshop at Viable Paradise and now hosts her own classes and events in partnership with other organizations.

Valdes is the author of Chilling Effect, her debut novel, and its sequel Prime Deceptions. She also writes poetry and non-fiction, which have been featured in magazines such as Nightmare and Uncanny.