Hey! It’s good to be back! And to the new followers, welcome!
Anyway, the reason why I took some time off from all the wedding planning madness is because this month is a very special month. For those who don’t know already, February isn’t just love month. It’s also Women in Horror Month. (Though I’m pretty sure a lot of people would agree that every month should be Women in Horror Month.)
The thing about the horror industry is that most people believe that it’s a male-dominated business. Seriously, how many female horror authors can you actually name, right?
Right?
Well…
Right now, I’m naming at least a hundred. And these are just some of my recommendations…
Fact: It’s tough for female horror authors to get some recognition in the mainstream system. It’s for that reason why a lot of us thrive quietly in the indie scene or find a home in the small press. It’s also the reason why a lot of the most well-known female horror authors end up being shelved under other genres (Sci-Fi, Gothic, Dark Fantasy, Thriller, etc.) This reality prompted me to come up with my very own LIST OF 100 FEMALE AUTHORS THAT HORROR FANS SHOULD BE READING RIGHT NOW!!! Some of the female writers on this list are like rock stars in the genre. Some are legends. Some gained recognition only after they’ve left this world. That said, there are those who aren’t as popular but have instantly earned my respect after I’ve read a couple of their stories. Others are indie, self-published, and small press authors who deserve more recognition than they get. I’m proud to say that I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of these ladies.
If you click on each author’s name, you’ll be automatically taken to a page featuring one of her stories/books. Some are even free reads so you can have a taste of these writers’ awesomeness before you decide to purchase their published works. So, without further fuss, here’s my list of THE 100 Female Horror Writers You Should Be Fangirling On Right Now!
1) A.C. Wise
2) Alice J. Black
3) Amanda M. Lyons
4) Angela Carter
5) Ania Ahlborn
6) Angela Meadon
7) Ann Radcliffe
8) Anna Taborska
9) Anne Rice
10) Annie Neugebauer
11) Billie Sue Mossiman
12) Brooke Warra
13) Caitlín R. Kiernan
14) Caitlin Marceau
15) Caroline Kepnes
16) Chantal Noordeloos
17) Charlotte Baker
18) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
19) Christine Morgan
20) Damien Angelica Walters
21) Daphne du Maurier
22) Dona Fox
23) Eden Royce
24) Edith Wharton
25) Elizabeth Gaskell
26) Farah Rose Smith
27) Fox Emm
28) Gemma Files
29) Gerri Leen
30) Gertrude Atherton
31) Gwendolyn Kiste
32) Helen Oyeyemi
33) Holly Day
34) Jaelithe Ingold
35) Jeanie Rector
36) Jessica McHugh
37) Joyce Carol Oates
38) Julia Benally
39) Julianne Snow
40) Kaaron Warren
41) Karen Runge
42) Karen Russell
43) Kate Jonez
44) Kathe Koja
45) Kathryn M. Hearst
46) Kelly Link
47) Kerry E.B. Black
48) Lauren Beukes
49) L.B. Shimaira
50) Lindsey Beth Goddard
51) LinnieSarah Helpern
52) Lisa Lane
53) Lisa Mannetti
54) Lisa Morton
55) Livia Llewellyn
56) Lori R. Lopez
57) Lori M. Myers
58) Lori Safranek
59) Lori Titus
60) Louisa Bacio
61) Lucy Taylor
62)Margaret Atwood
63) Mary Elizabeth Counselman
64) Mary Shelley
65) Mercedes Yardley
66) Michelle Garza
67) Miracle Austin
68) Nadia Bulkin
69) Nancy Collins
70) Nancy Holder
71) Nina D’Arcangela
72) Octavia Butler
73) Paula Ashe
74) Priya Sharma
75) Rachel Anding
76) Rachel Nussbaum
77) Rebecca J. Allred
78) Rena Mason
79) Rie Sheridan Rose
80) Rose Hartley
81) Sandra McDonald
82) Sarah Langan
83) Scarlett R. Algee
84) Sharon Twizzell
85) Shenoa Carroll-Bradd
86) Shirley Jackson
87) Silvia Moreno-Garcia
88) Stephanie Wytovich
89) Sumiko Saulson
90) Susan Hill
91) Suzy Saylor
92) Tamara Fey Turner
93) Tananarive Due
94) Tanith Lee
95) Tawny Kipphorn
96) Theresa Derwin
97) Valerie Valdes
98) V.C. Andrews
99) Veronica Magenta Nero
100) Wendy Wagner
Just to be clear, there are more than 100 female horror authors that I admire. I created this list hoping to come up with a truly eclectic catalogue so that every fan of the genre can find what s/he’s looking for– be it hardcore horror, dark fairy tales, erotic horror, dystopian horror, etc.
So, who are your favorite female writers in the horror genre? I’m inviting you to come up with a list of your own and to share it with everyone. 🙂
Want to find out more about WiHM? Visit http://www.womeninhorrormonth.com
Also, do visit Gwendolyn Kiste’s blog to check out a special WiHM interview series featuring yours truly and several other talented female horror authors. We talked about a lot of interesting stuff from the reasons why we feel drawn to the genre to our hopes concerning the trajectory of horror in the years to come.
Thank you so much for reading this post. I hope this has helped enrich your to-read list.
Bye for now! ❤
xox
K.Z.
The Eclectic Eccentric 