Seanan McGuire

Seanan McGuire
Born (1978-01-05) January 5, 1978
Martinez, California, U.S.
Pen name
  • Mira Grant
  • A. Deborah Baker
OccupationWriter
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
Genre
Notable works
Notable awards
Website
www.seananmcguire.com

Seanan McGuire (pronounced SHAWN-in;[1] born January 5, 1978) is an American author and filker. McGuire is known for her urban fantasy novels. She uses the pseudonym Mira Grant to write science fiction/horror and the pseudonym A. Deborah Baker to write the "Up-and-Under" children's portal fantasy series.

In 2010, she was awarded the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Her works have garnered numerous awards, including the Alex Award, Hugo Award, Locus Award, and Nebula Award.

Early life and education

McGuire was born on January 5, 1978, in Martinez, California.[2] McGuire has stated that her mother, Micki McGuire,[3] had "primary custody, two other children, no money, and an abusive husband who targeted [Seanan]".[4] During the summer, McGuire traveled with her father,[5] a carnival worker of Romani origin,[6] an experience she described as "Bradbury-esque running wild and unfettered through farmers' fields, building Ferris wheels and living on funnel cake."[7]

At age nine, McGuire was diagnosed with obsessive–compulsive disorder.[8]

McGuire attended University of California, Berkeley, where she studied folklore and herpetology.[2]

Career

Before becoming a full-time writer, McGuire worked at a reptile rescue organization.[9]

McGuire has published filk music, poetry, short fiction, essays, and novels. Most of her works are speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Her earliest publication was a contribution to the June 2002 poetry anthology Speculon.[10] She produced the musical album Pretty Little Dead Girl in 2006[11] and published her first short story in The Edge of Propinquity in 2008.[10] In 2009, she published her first novel, Rosemary and Rue, which has resulted in her longest-running series, with the 18th book, The Innocent Sleep, published in 2023.

In 2010, she published Feed under the pseudonym Mira Grant. This established Seanan McGuire as an urban fantasy writer and her pseudonym Mira Grant as a horror/science fiction writer.[12]

In 2018, McGuire began writing for Marvel Comics. She wrote two Spider-Gwen/Ghost Spider series from 2018-2020 and has contributed to several other franchises.

She is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA),[13] the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and the Book View Cafe publishing cooperative.

Notable works

Main article: Seanan McGuire bibliography

Series

Tie-ins

Comics

  • Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider (ongoing series, published 2018-9)
  • X-Men Black: Mystique (2018)
  • Age of X-Man: The Amazing Nightcrawler (tie-in, 2019)
  • Ghost-Spider (ongoing series, 2019-20)
  • King In Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage (tie-in, 2021)
  • Magic:Soul and Stone (July 2023)

Short fiction

McGuire's short fiction has been published in Apex Magazine, Nightmare Magazine, Lightspeed Magazine, and others. Her works appear in anthologies edited by Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, and John Joseph Adams.

She has self-published hundreds of short stories. From 2008 to 2017, she posted installments of the Velveteen series to LiveJournal with the support of fan sponsorships.[15] Tie-ins to her October Daye and InCryptid series are available for free on her website. In 2016, she launched a Patreon account to post monthly short stories for her subscribers.

Awards and nominations

Literary awards

McGuire holds the record for most Hugo Award nominations in a single year, with five nominations in 2013.[16] McGuire was the first author to win the American Library Association's Alex Awards for two consecutive years.[17] She has been nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Series every year since its inception in 2017.

In 2010, Feed was recognized as #74 out of the 100 top thriller novels of all time by NPR.[18] It was also recognized as a Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2010.[19]

In 2012, McGuire (as Mira Grant) was inducted in to the Darrell Awards Hall of Fame for the best American Mid-South regional speculative fiction.[20]

Awards for literature
Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2010 — John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer[a] — Won [21]
Feed Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award Science Fiction Novel Finalist [22]
Shirley Jackson Award Novel Finalist [23]
2011 Deadline (as Mira Grant) Philip K. Dick Award — Nominated [24]
Feed Audie Award Audie Award for Science Fiction Finalist [25]
Hugo Award Best Novel Finalist [26]
2012 "Countdown" Hugo Award Best Novella Finalist [27]
Blackout Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award Science Fiction Novel Finalist [28]
Deadline (as Mira Grant) Hugo Award Best Novel Finalist [27]
2013 Blackout Hugo Award Best Novel Finalist [29]
"In Sea-Salt Tears" Hugo Award Best Novelette Finalist [29]
"Rat-Catcher" Hugo Award Best Novelette Finalist [29]
San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats Hugo Award Best Novella Finalist [29]
2014 Parasite Hugo Award Best Novel Finalist [30]
2015 “Each to Each” James Tiptree Jr. Award[b] — Honor List [31]
2016 Every Heart a Doorway Nebula Award Best Novella Won [32]
James Tiptree Jr. Award[b] — Honor List [33]
2017 Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award Fantasy Novel Finalist [34]
Every Heart a Doorway Alex Awards — Won [35]
British Fantasy Award Best Novella Finalist [36]
Hugo Award Best Novella Won [37]
Locus Award Best Novella Won [38]
World Fantasy Award Novella Finalist [39]
October Daye Hugo Award Best Series Finalist [37]
2018 Down Among the Sticks and Bones Alex Awards — Won [40]
Hugo Award Best Novella Finalist [41]
Locus Award Best Novella Finalist [42]
RUSA Award Fantasy Won [43]
Every Heart a Doorway Geffen Award Best Translated Fantasy Book Finalist [44]
InCryptid Hugo Award Best Series Finalist [41]
“The Mathematical Inevitability of Corvids” Locus Award Best Novelette Finalist [42]
2019 “Any Way the Wind Blows" Sidewise Award for Alternate History Short Form Finalist [45]
Beneath the Sugar Sky Hugo Award Best Novella Finalist [46]
World Fantasy Award Novella Finalist [47]
The Girl in the Green Silk Gown Endeavour Award — Finalist [48]
October Daye Hugo Award Best Series Finalist [46]
2020 In an Absent Dream Hugo Award Best Novella Finalist [49]
World Fantasy Award Novella Finalist [50]
InCryptid Hugo Award Best Series Finalist [49]
Middlegame Alex Awards — Won [51]
Endeavour Award — Finalist [52]
Hugo Award Best Novel Finalist [49]
Locus Award Best Fantasy Novel Won [53]
"Phantoms of the Midway" Locus Award Best Novelette Finalist [53]
2021 Calculated Risks Endeavour Award — Finalist [54]
Come Tumbling Down Hugo Award Best Novella Finalist [55]
Locus Award Best Novella Finalist [56]
Ghost-Spider Vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over Hugo Award Best Graphic Story Finalist [55]
October Daye Hugo Award Best Series Finalist [55]
Over the Woodward Wall Locus Award Best Young Adult Book Finalist [56]
2022 Across the Green Grass Fields Hugo Award Best Novella Finalist [57]
Be the Serpent Endeavour Award — Finalist [58]
"Tangles" Hugo Award Best Short Story Finalist [57]
Wayward Children Hugo Award Best Series Won [57]
2023 “In Mercy, Rain" Locus Award Best Novelette Finalist [59]
October Daye Hugo Award Best Series Finalist [60]
Sleep No More Endeavour Award — Finalist [61]
Where the Drowned Girls Go Hugo Award Best Novella Won [60]
2024 Lost in the Moment and Found Locus Award Best Novella Finalist [62]
October Daye Hugo Award Best Series Finalist [63]
2025 InCryptid Hugo Award Best Series Finalist [64]
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known Locus Award Best Novella Finalist [65]
Other awards
Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2012 SF Squeecast
(with Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Lynne M. Thomas, and Catherynne M. Valente) 		Hugo Award Fancast Won [27]
Wicked Girls Hugo Award Hugo Award for Best Related Work Finalist [27]
2013 SF Squeecast
(with Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Lynne M. Thomas, and Catherynne M. Valente) 		Hugo Award Fancast Won [29]

Filk awards

Pegasus Award presented by the Ohio Valley Filk Festival.[66]

Year Award Work Result
2005 Best Writer/ Composer N/A Nominated
2006 Best Writer/ Composer N/A Nominated
2006 Best Torch Song "Maybe It's Crazy" Nominated
2007 Best Performer N/A Won
2008 Best Writer/ Composer N/A Won
2008 Best Tragedy Song "The Black Death" Nominated
2010 Best Mad Science Song "What a Woman's For" Won
2011 Best Filk Song "Wicked Girls" Won
2011 Most Badass Song "Evil Laugh" Won
2012 Best Filk Song "My Story Is Not Done" Nominated
2015 Best Filk Song "My Story Is Not Done" Won
2018 Best Horror Song "Dear Gina" Won
2021 Best Mad Science Song "Maybe it's Crazy" Nominated
2021 Best Cheery-Ose Song "Dear Seanan" (with Erin Bellavia and Merav Hoffman) Nominated

Personal life

McGuire was diagnosed as autistic in 2020[67] and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[68][69] She identifies as pansexual,[70] bisexual,[71] and demisexual.[72]

McGuire lives in Washington state.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Now called the Astounding Award for Best New Writer
  2. ^ a b Now known as the Otherwise Award

References

  1. ^ a b "Seanan McGuire: General FAQ". SeananMcGuire.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-10. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  2. ^ a b "Seanan McGuire: Out of Sync". Locus Online. 2017-12-11. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  3. ^ McGuire, Seanan (March 6, 2018). Tricks for Free. Astra Publishing House. ISBN 978-0-698-18358-2 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (2023-06-13). "Because there are often diametric conflicts in the way I describe my childhood: I have two parents. Most people do. They were not married. My mother had primary custody, two other children, no money, and an abusive husband who targeted me" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (2023-06-13). "My father had the carnival, where I had my own wagon, and was allowed a certain amount of feral, emotionally-damaged autonomy. He only got me during the summers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ @seananmcguire (August 10, 2019). "Yes, I am ethnically Irish (and Romany, on my father's side). I have a very Irish name. This doesn't make me culturally Irish. I am privileged to be a guest in the land of my ancestors" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (2023-06-13). "So yes, my childhood was simultaneously unspeakable horrors in an apartment with cockroaches and no heat, and Bradbury-esque running wild and unfettered through farmers' fields, building Ferris wheels and living on funnel cake. Real life gets to contradict" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (Jan 30, 2020). "And the answer is that people with OCD exist. I have OCD, and I exist. I'm not looking for a cure; I have the childhood onset form of the condition, meaning I was diagnosed at the age of nine" (Tweet). Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ O'Connor, Amy (2015-08-23). "This story of a lizard getting trapped inside a man's leg is pure nightmare fuel". The Daily Edge. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  10. ^ a b "Bibliography". Seanan McGuire. Archived from the original on 2022-04-10. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  11. ^ "Albums". Seanan McGuire. Archived from the original on 2022-04-17. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  12. ^ Mayer, Petra (July 22, 2018). "Readers See Themselves In The Many Worlds Of Seanan McGuire". NPR. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  13. ^ Posts Tagged ‘Seanan Mcguire’. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. https://www.sfwa.org/tag/seanan-mcguire/
  14. ^ "New Treasures: Deadlands: Boneyard by Seanan McGuire – Black Gate". 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Velveteen vs. The Aftermath". seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-17. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  16. ^ Flood, Alison (31 March 2013). "Seanan McGuire gets record five nominations for Hugo awards". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Alex Awards Tor Press Release". Tor.com. 2018-02-12. Archived from the original on 2018-11-22. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  18. ^ Matazzoni, Joe (2010-08-04). "Audience Picks: Top 100 "Killer Thrillers"". NPR. Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  19. ^ "Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2010". Publishersweekly.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  20. ^ "The Darrell Awards". Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Announcing the 2010 Hugo Award Winners!". Reactor. 5 Sep 2010. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  22. ^ "Winners of 2010 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards". Locus Online. 3 Jun 2011. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  23. ^ "2010 Shirley Jackson Award Winners". Locus Online. 18 Jul 2011. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  24. ^ "2011 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees". Locus Online. 2012-01-10. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  25. ^ "2011 Audie Awards Finalists". Locus Online. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  26. ^ "2011 Hugo Finalists". Reactor. 24 Apr 2011. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d "2012 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus. 2 Sep 2012. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.
  28. ^ "2012 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominees". Locus Online. 7 Nov 2012. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
  29. ^ a b c d e "2013 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus Online. 1 Sep 2013. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  30. ^ "2014 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus Online. 15 Aug 2014. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  31. ^ "Fischer and Schmatz Win Tiptree". Locus Online. 1 Apr 2016. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  32. ^ "2016 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  33. ^ "McLemore Wins 2016 Tiptree Award". Locus Online. 14 Mar 2017. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  34. ^ "2017 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Winners". Locus Online. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  35. ^ "Alex Awards 2017". American Library Association. 13 Feb 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-02-25. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  36. ^ "2017 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. 2 Oct 2017. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  37. ^ a b "2017 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus. 11 Aug 2017. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  38. ^ "2017 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 24 Jun 2017. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  39. ^ "2017 World Fantasy Award Finalists". Locus Online. 26 Jul 2017. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  40. ^ "2018 ALA Awards". Locus Online. 12 Feb 2018. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  41. ^ a b "2018 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus Online. 20 Aug 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  42. ^ a b "2018 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 23 Jun 2018. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  43. ^ "RUSA 2018 Selections". Locus Online. 12 Feb 2018. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  44. ^ "2018 Geffen Awards Winners". Locus Online. 1 Oct 2018. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  45. ^ "2019 and 2020 Sidewise Awards Winners". Locus Online. 20 Dec 2021. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  46. ^ a b "2019 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus Online. 19 Aug 2019. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  47. ^ "2019 World Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. 3 Nov 2019. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  48. ^ "2019 Endeavour Award Winner". Locus Online. 11 Nov 2019. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  49. ^ a b c "2020 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Winners". Locus Online. 1 Aug 2020. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  50. ^ "World Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. 2 Nov 2020. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  51. ^ "2020 Youth Media Award Winners". American Libraries Magazine. 27 Jan 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  52. ^ "2020 Endeavour Award Winners". Locus Online. 16 Nov 2020. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  53. ^ a b "2020 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 27 Jun 2020. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  54. ^ "Satifka Wins 2021 Endeavour Award". Locus Online. 10 Apr 2023. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  55. ^ a b c "2021 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus Online. 19 Dec 2021. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  56. ^ a b "2021 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 26 Jun 2021. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  57. ^ a b c "2022 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus Online. 4 Sep 2022. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  58. ^ "2022 Endeavour Award". Locus Online. 13 Nov 2023. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  59. ^ "2023 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 25 Jun 2023. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  60. ^ a b "2023 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus. 21 Oct 2023. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  61. ^ "Owen Wins Endeavour". Locus. 21 Oct 2024. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  62. ^ "2024 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 22 Jun 2024. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  63. ^ "2024 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Winners". Locus. 11 Aug 2024. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  64. ^ "2025 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Winners". Locus. 16 Aug 2025. Retrieved 17 Aug 2025.
  65. ^ "2025 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 21 Jun 2025. Retrieved 20 Jul 2025.
  66. ^ "Seanan McGuire". Ohio Valley Filk Fest. Archived from the original on 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  67. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (Mar 23, 2023). "I was diagnosed autistic in 2020, which surprised absolutely no one, and is not a useful thing to use when trying to mock me. You can do better" (Tweet). Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Twitter.
  68. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (Aug 7, 2022). "It absolutely is. And my ADHD is running the schedule right now" (Tweet). Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Twitter.
  69. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (Oct 23, 2022). "Me: "I wonder if my new ADHD meds are working." Also me: "Oh, I got up at 6am and got right to work, I'm already 1,500 words into my day, why are you looking at me like that?"" (Tweet). Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Twitter.
  70. ^ "Women in Queer SFF: Interview with Seanan McGuire". Just Love Reviews. 2017-09-07. Archived from the original on 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  71. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (2015-04-22). "I am not a lesbian when I am with a woman. I am not straight when I am with a man. I am not asexual when I am with neither. I'm bi" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  72. ^ McGuire, Seanan [@seananmcguire] (2017-02-13). "My name is pronounced SHAWN-in, and while there are many aspects to the book that are not mine, I identify as demisexual" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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