Quirk Books has announced with a press release this week, “Women have always been at the forefront of genre fiction, crafting some of the most captivating, ambitious, and terrifying stories of our time. In Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction, horror academics and Know Fear podcast hosts Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson celebrate over 100 women, both famous and forgotten, who left their mark on horror, science fiction, and other speculative genres.”
Each short biography reveals how these women defied expectations, influenced their male peers, and brought new life into genre fiction. Every profile is accompanied by a bibliography and suggestions for further reading, “straddling the line between highly useful reference and compulsively readable stories” (Booklist, starred review). Inside, you’ll find:
- Iconic Geniuses, like Shirley Jackson and Mary Shelley
- Forgotten Innovators, like Margaret Cavendish
- Occult Practitioners, like Margery Lawrence
- Modern-Era Marvels, like Helen Oyeyemi
- And more.
“Kröger and Anderson bring their significant knowledge to the table, while still crafting a book that is totally accessible for those who might not consider themselves hardcore horror fans.”
Quirk Books will release Monster, She Wrote on September 17, 2019.

