Paranormal fiction writers are a diverse group of authors who create stories about the supernatural and unexplained. They write about ghosts, spirits, demons, vampires, werewolves, witches, and other creatures and phenomena that defy ordinary reality.
Some of the most famous paranormal fiction writers include H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Susan Hill and Ambrose Bierce.
Paranormal fiction is a genre of fiction that deals with supernatural or unexplained phenomena. It can include stories about ghosts, spirits, demons, vampires, werewolves, witches, and other supernatural creatures. Paranormal fiction can also explore themes such as the afterlife, reincarnation, and the occult.
One of the most popular subgenres of paranormal fiction is ghost fiction. Several authors on this list write about ghosts. Two are the most famous of these are Shirley Jackson with ner novel The Haunting of Hill House, and Stephen King with The Shining.
A new generation of vampire fiction authors has arisen, led by Anne Rice, with her Interview with the Vampire.
In addition to these popular subgenres, nothing is ignored by these writers, including stories about other supernatural creatures, such as witches, demons, and angels. Paranormal fiction stories can also be set in different time periods and locations, from the present day to the past to the future.
One of the things that attracts writers to the genre of paranormal fiction is that it allows them to explore our fears and curiosities about the unknown. Paranormal fiction stories can be both thrilling and terrifying, and also thought-provoking and introspective.
Here are twenty of the most famous paranormal authors, including some of the most popular writing today.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American author, poet, editor, and literary critic. Considered part of the American Romantic Movement, he was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career. Poe and his works influenced literature in the United States and around the world, as well as in specialized fields such as cosmology and cryptography.
Poe’s tales and poems are characterized by their dark and atmospheric tone, their emphasis on the supernatural, and their exploration of dark psychological themes. Some of his most famous paranormal stories include The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Cask of Amontillado.
Ambrose Bierce (1842-1913?) was an American author, journalist, and editor. He is best known for his short stories, which are known for their dark and ironic humor, their twist endings, and their exploration of themes such as death, madness, and the supernatural. Some of his most famous paranormal stories include An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,The Damned Thing, and The Moonlit Road.
R. James (1862-1936) was an English author and medieval scholar, best known for his ghost stories. He was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, and educated at Eton College and King’s College, Cambridge. He taught medieval history at King’s College for over 30 years.
James’ ghost stories are known for their scholarly attention to detail, their subtle use of atmosphere, and their focus on the psychological effects of the supernatural on his characters. His ghost stories have been adapted for radio, television, and film, and his work has been praised by critics and readers alike for its quality and influence. He is considered to be one of the greatest masters of the ghost story genre.
Robert W. Chambers (1865-1933) was an American author of novels, short stories, and poems. He is best known for his horror fiction, particularly his stories about the King in Yellow, a malevolent entity from another dimension.
Chambers’ paranormal novels are known for their lush and evocative prose, their complex characters, and their exploration of themes such as madness, the occult, and the supernatural. Some of his most famous paranormal novels include The King in Yellow, In the Court of the Dragon, and The Maker of Moons.
Algernon Blackwood (1869-1951) was an English writer of ghost stories and other supernatural fiction. He is best known for his stories about ordinary people who encounter the extraordinary, often in the form of malevolent forces from another dimension.
Blackwood’s work is known for its atmospheric prose, its complex characters, and its sense of wonder and awe. He often wrote about the interconnectedness of all things, and the fragility of the human mind. Some of his most famous paranormal stories include: The Willows (1907), The Wendigo (1910) The Empty House (1907) The Listener (1910) The Centaur (1911)
Blackwood’s work has been praised by authors such as H. P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, and Clive Barker. Lovecraft called him “the greatest of living weird-tale writers,” and King has said that Blackwood’s stories “are among the finest examples of horror fiction ever written.”
Blackwood’s work has had a major impact on the paranormal fiction genre. His stories are considered to be classics of the genre, and they continue to be read and enjoyed by millions of people around the world.
P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) was an American author of weird fiction and horror fiction. He is best known for his creation of the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared fictional universe that has been adapted into many works of fiction, film, and television.
Lovecraft’s work is known for its dark and atmospheric tone, its cosmic horror themes, and its emphasis on the unknowable and the incomprehensible. His stories often feature ancient and powerful beings from beyond time and space, as well as the humans who come into contact with them and are driven mad.
Lovecraft’s work was not widely popular during his lifetime, but it has since gained a cult following and is now considered to be among the most influential works of horror fiction ever written. His work has been praised by authors such as Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Neil Gaiman.
Some of Lovecraft’s most famous stories include The Call of Cthulhu, The Dunwich Horror, At the Mountains of Madness, and The Shadow Out of Time. His work has been adapted into many films and television shows, including the 1982 film “The Thing” and the HBO series “Lovecraft Country.”
Lovecraft was a controversial figure, and his work has been criticized for its racist and xenophobic elements. However, his work is also celebrated for its groundbreaking themes and its influence on many other authors.
Shirley Jackson (1916-1965) was an American author of dark fiction, best known for her novels The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Jackson’s work is known for its psychological suspense, its atmospheric settings, and its complex and often disturbing characters.
Jackson’s paranormal novels are praised for their realistic depiction of fear and their exploration of the dark side of human nature. The Haunting of Hill House is considered to be one of the greatest haunted house novels ever written.
All three of these authors are considered to be masters of the paranormal fiction genre. Their work has had a lasting impact on the genre and continues to be read and enjoyed by millions of people around the world.
Richard Matheson (1926-2013) was an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels and short stories. He is best known for his novels I Am Legend and The Incredible Shrinking Man, both of which have been adapted into successful films.
Matheson’s work is known for its suspenseful plots, its complex characters, and its exploration of dark and disturbing themes. He often wrote about the fragility of the human mind and the dangers of unchecked technology. Some of his other famous paranormal stories include “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” “Duel,” and “Stir of Echoes.”
Anne Rice (1941-2021) was an American author of gothic fiction, best known for her Vampire Chronicles series. Rice’s work is known for its lush and evocative prose, its complex characters, and its exploration of themes such as immortality, sexuality, and the nature of good and evil.
Rice’s most famous paranormal novels include Interview with the Vampire, The Queen of the Damned, and Lestat the Vampire. Her work has been adapted into many films and television shows, including “Interview with the Vampire” and “Queen of the Damned.”
Susan Hill (1942-2023) was an English novelist, short story writer, and playwright, best known for her ghost stories. She was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, and educated at the University of Durham. Her first novel, The Bird of Night (1972), was a critical and commercial success, and she went on to write over 20 novels and collections of short stories.
Hill’s ghost stories are known for their masterful use of suspense and atmosphere, and their exploration of the themes of grief, loss, and the supernatural. Hill’s ghost stories have been adapted for radio, television, and film, and her work has been praised by critics and readers alike for its quality and originality. She was awarded the CBE in 2002 for her services to literature.
Stephen King (born 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science fiction, and fantasy novels. He is best known for his works in the horror genre, such as Carrie, The Shining, Misery, and It.
King’s work is known for its exploration of human nature, its realistic depictions of violence and horror, and its relatable characters. He often writes about ordinary people who are caught up in extraordinary circumstances. His work has also been praised for its social commentary and its exploration of themes such as good versus evil, addiction, and the power of the human spirit.
King is one of the most prolific and successful authors of all time. He has written over 60 novels and hundreds of short stories. His work has been translated into over 30 languages and has sold over 350 million copies worldwide. He has also won numerous awards for his writing, including the National Book Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award.
King’s work has had a major impact on popular culture. His novels have been adapted into many films and television shows, including The Shining, Carrie, Misery, and It. His work has also been referenced and parodied in many other works of fiction, film, and television.
King is a master of storytelling and a true American icon. His work has entertained and terrified readers for decades. He is a true pioneer of the horror genre and his work continues to inspire and influence new generations of writers.
Nora Roberts (born 1950) is a New York Times bestselling author of over 200 romance novels, including many paranormal romance novels. Some of her most popular paranormal romance novels include:
Born in Death“(2005): The first book in the popular “In Death” series, which follows Eve Dallas, a homicide lieutenant with the New York City Police Department, and her husband, Roarke, a billionaire businessman and computer genius, as they solve crimes involving vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures, Angels of Death (1995): a standalone novel about a group of angels who are sent to Earth to protect humanity from a powerful demon, and Midnight Bayou (1991), a standalone novel about a woman who discovers that she is a descendant of witches and must use her powers to protect her family from a dark sorcerer.
Jo Nesbø (born 1960) is a Norwegian author of crime fiction, best known for his Harry Hole series. However, he has also written a number of paranormal novels, including Midnight Sun and The Redeemer.
Nesbø’s paranormal novels are known for their dark and atmospheric tone, their complex characters, and their suspenseful plots. He often writes about the supernatural forces that lurk beneath the surface of everyday life.
Tina St. John (born 1962) is a New York Times bestselling author of over 40 romance novels, including many paranormal romance novels. Some of her most popular paranormal novels include: The Eternal Highlander (1998), The Vampire’s Kiss (1995), and The Werewolf’s Bride (1994): A standalone novel about a woman who is kidnapped by a werewolf and forced to marry him.
Deborah Harkness (born 1965) is an American historian and novelist, best known as an historian and as the author of the All Souls Trilogy, which consists of The New York Times best-selling novel A Discovery of Witches and its sequels Shadow of Night and The Book of Life. Her latest book is Time’s Convert: A Novel, both an origin story of the trilogy’s Marcus Whitmore character, set in the American War of Independence and the French Revolution, and a sequel to the All Souls Trilogy.
Kerrelyn Sparks (born 1966) is a New York Times bestselling author of paranormal romance novels. She is best known for her Love at Stake series, which follows the adventures of a group of vampires and other supernatural creatures who live in the fictional town of Cherry Falls, Vermont.
Sparks began writing fiction in her early 20s, and her first novel, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire, was published in 2005. The Love at Stake series has since become one of the most popular paranormal romance series of all time, with over 17 million copies sold worldwide.
Sparks’ work is known for its humorous tone, and its sexy storylines. She has been praised for her ability to create characters that readers can relate to, and for her talent for writing romantic scenes that are both steamy and heartwarming.
Cassandra Clare (born 1973) is a New York Times bestselling author of paranormal fiction and fantasy. She is best known for her Shadowhunters Chronicles series, which follows the adventures of a group of young people who discover that they are descended from a long line of warriors who protect the world from demons. Clare’s work is known for its strong female characters, its exciting plots, and its complex world-building. She has been praised for her ability to create characters that readers can relate to, and for her talent for creating suspenseful and thrilling stories.
In addition to the Shadowhunters Chronicles series, Clare has also written several other novels and short stories, including the Infernal Devices trilogy, the Dark Artifices trilogy, and the Last Hours trilogy. She has also written several novellas and short stories set in the Shadowhunters world. She is a popular speaker and has appeared at conventions and events all over the world. She is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in literature.
Chloe Neill (born 1973) is a Canadian paranormal romance writer. She is best known for her Chicagoland Vampires series, which follows the adventures of Merit, a vampire hunter who is also a half-vampire herself.
L. Bryan (born 1974) is an American author of paranormal fiction, best known for her “Book of Shadows” series. She was born in Houston, Texas, and educated at the University of Houston. She began writing fiction in her early 20s, and her first novel, Blood Rites (1999), was the first book in the “Book of Shadows” series that follows the adventures of a group of modern-day witches who use their magic to protect the world from evil. The series is known for its exciting plots, and its blend of paranormal romance and horror.
Nalini Singh (born) 1977 is a New York Times bestselling author of paranormal romance novels. She is best known for her Psy-Changeling series, which follows the adventures of a race of telepaths called Psy and a race of shapeshifters called Changelings.
Singh was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. She began writing fiction in her early teens, and her first novel, Slave to Sensation, was published in 2006. The Psy-Changeling series has since become one of the most popular paranormal romance series of all time, with over 20 million copies sold worldwide.
Singh’s work is known for its strong female characters, its complex world-building, and its steamy love scenes. She has been praised for her ability to create characters that readers can relate to, and for her talent for writing stories that are both suspenseful and romantic.
In addition to the Psy-Changeling series, Singh has also written several other paranormal romance novels, including the Guild Hunter series, the Rock Kiss series, and the Archangel’s Legion series. She has also written a number of short stories for various anthologies.
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And that’s our list of the twenty best paranormal fiction authors. What’s your take on these – any surprises, or any paranormal fiction writers not on this list that you feel should make the list?