Authors from Around the World: United States

Have you immersed yourself in the voices of India’s vibrant literary scene? Or seen California through the eyes of its storytellers? What about the lyrical narratives shaped by the landscapes of New Zealand, Scotland, or Ireland?

Fairlight Books publishes and promotes writers of highly original literary and quality fiction from all across the globe. Not only do we aim to diversify your reading list, but through celebrating our talented authors around the world we hope to introduce you to a new favourite. Keep reading to learn about some of our authors in America, including one of our short story authors (and information on how you could become one!)

Jennifer Love (California):

Jennifer Love is a writer and Bay Area native who currently calls California, in the United States, home. Her debut short story collection, Punch a Hole in the Sky to Let in the Light, was published by 5ever Books in 2023. Her short fiction and poetry have additionally appeared in X-RAY, Minola Review, Storm Cellar, Autre and elsewhere.

Please Fear Me is Jennifer’s debut novel published by Fairlight Books in 2024 and available in the US from September 5^th 2025. It follows runaway sixteen-year-old smidge and a performance artist called Violet, as they travel through the underbelly of America, desperately searching for a way to rise above the past.

Jennifer, when asked what she wanted readers to take away from her book said that ‘I hope that my general thesis in life is the takeaway, which is that teenage girls are always the most interesting people in the room’.

Please Fear Me is described by Ola Mustapha, author of Other Names, Other Places, as ‘a poignant and atmospheric coming of age story. Smidge’s deadpan wit never detracts from the depth and beauty of her interior world. Jennifer Love has produced the literary equivalent of the best kind of road movie.’

To learn more about Jenifer Love and Please Fear Me, you can read our full interviews with her here, or visit her website here.

JT Torres (Miami, Florida):

Born in Miami, Florida, JT Torres is of Cuban-American descent. He is an assistant professor of English at Quinnipiac University, and combines an MFA in creative writing with a PhD in educational psychology to understand how storytelling often frames the construction of a self.

With Fairlight Books, JT Torres has published Taking Flight (2021), a beautifully told drama of the bond between grandson and grandmother in which Torres delicately explores the complexities of family bonds.

When invited to do a Q&A with us, Torres explains that the inspiration for Taking Flight came from the stories of his grandmother’s life in Cuba, before emigrating to America.

The novella also incorporates aspects of Cuban folklore, which is influenced by his experience studying religious practice, identity, and attributes in Cuba as well as his many years working with an arts-based ethnographic team traveling to Cuba and West Africa.

Taking Flight has received high praise, with Karen Salyer McElmurray, author of Wanting Radiance, describing it as, ‘a not-to-be missed coming of age story that ranges from Miami to Orlando to Alaska as its hero learns to create his own galaxy, his own known world’.

Furthermore, Jill Flanders Crosby, Professor of Theatre and Dance at the University of Alaska Anchorage, states that ‘JT Torres’ story is a masterful work written in the style of magic realism that slowly peels apart the passing down of the “immigrant experience” from one generation to the next.’

To learn more about JT Torres and his novella Taking Flight, you can read our full interview with him here, or follow him on Instagram here.

Sara Marchant (California):

Sara Marchant received her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts from the University of California, Riverside/Palm Desert in the United States.

Her work has been published by Full Grown People, Brilliant Flash Fiction, The Coachella Review, East Jasmine Review, ROAR, and Desert Magazine. Her essay ‘Proof of Blood’ was also anthologised in All the Women in my Family Sing.

Sara’s novella, The Driveway Has Two Sides (2018) is set on an East Coast island, and follows Deliah moving into a cottage and navigating her gossiping neighbours, as a man across the driveway catches her attention.

When interviewed, Sara told us that the inspiration for the book came from ‘a guy blocking my driveway because he wanted to chat with a neighbour and I became enormously irritated and then I thought, ‘what if I had to SHARE a driveway with these schmucks?!’

Alongside, The Driveway has two sides, Fairlight has also published Sara’s book Becoming Delilah (2023), which delves deeper into the much-loved character of Delilah.

Sara has been described by Emily Rapp, author of The Still Point of the Turning World, as ‘the kind of writer we need for these times: her scathing intelligence, refusal to engage with sentimentality, and generous, inclusive view of what makes people’s lives matter restores my belief in the power of story to change the world’.

To learn more about Sara Marchant, The Driveway Has Two Sides and Becoming Delilah, you can read our full interviews with her here, or visit her website here.

Karen B. Golightly (Memphis, Tennessee):

Karen B. Golightly is an Associate Professor of English and is an advocate for autism. She also has a PhD in English from the Southern Illinois University.

Karen’s poems, stories, creative non-fiction pieces, photography and academic articles have been published in various anthologies, journals, and magazines. These include Mt. Tamalpais Press’ Love in the Face of Everything anthology, Number magazine, and Memphis magazine.

Karen is the author of Fairlight Books’ novella There Are Things I Know (2018), which was a finalist of the International Book Awards.

There are Things I Know, tells the story of Eight-year-old Pepper, who, following a school trip, is kidnapped by a stranger and driven to rural Arkansas. Although told his mother has passed away, Pepper is certain she hasn’t and determined to find her.

Inspired by her own son, who has autism, Karen hopes that readers of the book see how autism can be an ability and not always negative.

Karen’s work has been described as ‘a quick little read that you won’t want to put down’ and ‘a fast-paced thriller which kept me engaged throughout the entirety of the story’ (Netgallery Reviews).

To learn more about Karen B. Golightly and There are Things I Know, you can read our full interview with her here, or visit her website here.

Anthony St. George (San Francisco, California):

Anthony St. George is one of Fairlight’s many short story writers. He began dreaming of being an author in elementary school, but he only began pursuing full-time writing and publication in 2021. His published speculative shorts (many of which depict the world of his novel), experimental and literary fiction pieces have appeared most recently in such publications as New Maps, Streetcake magazine, and Ligeia magazine.

‘Half the Ghost’ is Anthony’s first story to be published with Fairlight Books. It touches upon themes of individuality, identity, memory and growing-up. Links to his published pieces can be found at https://anthonystgeorge.com and his daily musings appear on Twitter under @asgriobhadh.

Such as Anthony did, we encourage all writers to submit their short story to us at Fairlight Books and submissions are now open! Selected submissions will be posted to our short stories page and shared on our socials and newsletter –a fantastic opportunity to get your name and work out there. Further information about submission, including guidance and tips can be read here.