Meet Orbit’s 2026 New Voices!

Jared Poon is a philosopher, facilitator, and game designer, working with governments in Southeast Asia and around the world to improve policy-making through storytelling, imagination, and co-creation. He’s a recovering public servant, and lives in Singapore with his husband and two very silly cats.

Dive into a world where magic lies hidden just below the surface in this charming urban fantasy full of workplace found family, queer romance, and supernatural creatures straight out of Southeast Asian lore, from debut author Jared Poon. 

“Urban fantasy that vibes like The X-Men meets Parks and Recreation? A send-up of government bureaucracy that is also a magnificent homage to public service? Sign me up! I love it when a book makes me think, ‘I have never read anything like this before.’ City of Others is that book—such a unique and refreshing read!”  —Megan Bannen, USA Today bestselling author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

Jessie Sylva is a recovering lawyer living in Toronto with her wife and two cats. She writes fantasy with an emphasis on queer joy, telling stories full of magic, adventure, and, of course, kissing. The cozy fantasy How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is her debut novel, although her first writing commission was The Official Dragon Age Cookbook.

From debut author Jessie Sylva comes the cozy tale of a halfling and a goblin who must learn to love each other despite their differences. How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is brimming with warmth and popular romance tropes—perfect for fans of The Honey Witch and The Spellshop. 

★ “Cozy, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

What if cottagecore and goblincore fell in love?

Sarah G. Pierce is a writer and photographer with a Master’s in Art History, Sarah currently lives in Manhattan with her poker-playing husband (whom she met on a dating app for living people), and their son.

An unforgettable debut, For Human Use is a twisted tale of modern love that bends every genre, sears itself into your brain, and presents a horrific romantic comedy unlike anything you’ve ever read before.

★ “An utterly ingenious horror-romcom, darkly zeitgeisty, and unnervingly plausible—funny as hell, too. You will not forget this book.” ―Heather Aimee O’Neill, author of Read With Jenna Book Club Pick The Irish Goodbye

Modern dating is dead.

Sarah K . L. Wilson loves writing because it is the only way to make a living and give back to the world when your primary skill is an overactive imagination and a tendency toward anxiety-fueled daydreams. She can be found in the outdoors of Northern Ontario with her young boys and beloved husband, reading a book, or fending off her husband’s pet turkeys with a straw broom.

A desperate queen makes a deal with the gods to save her land in this spellbinding romantasy debut from Sarah K. L. Wilson.

“Perfect for readers who love slow-burn romance steeped in lush fantasy!” ―Danielle L. Jensen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood

A. S. Tamaki grew up in Los Angeles, where he spent his childhood climbing trees and making short films in his backyard. After working in Hollywood for several years, he now lives in the Pacific Northwest, and when he’s not writing, spends his time routesetting at local climbing gyms. The Book of Fallen Leaves is his first novel. 

Shogun meets Game of Thrones in the blockbuster epic fantasy event of the year.  A. S. Tamaki weaves a powerful tale of ambition, vengeance and sacrifice in this masterful fantasy retelling of an ancient Samurai saga, packed with memorable characters, stunning worldbuilding and epic adventure.

“A sprawling, complex fantasy epic that reads like real history. Ambition and vengeance, loyalty and betrayal, and characters caught in a tragic web of fate are the hallmarks of an impressive debut that builds slowly and steadily toward a brutal finale.” ―Fonda Lee, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Green Bone Saga

Soraya Bouazzaoui is a born and bred London babes raised on Jacqueline Wilson, R.L. Stine and Malorie Blackman. Stories—in all their forms—are a central part of who she is. Soraya’s day job is book editing, and she has also written for publications such as Stylist, Bad Form, Strategist UK, Metro and Aurelia. A lover of contemporary, commercial, SFF, horror and YA fiction, her head is full of nonsense and daydreams, but she likes it that way.

TEMPTRESS. MONSTER. WARRIOR.

Aicha is the story of Morocco’s warrior goddess, her strange magic, fierce rebellion, and devastating romance. Soraya Bouazzaoui weaves an epic tale of female rage and hidden myths, perfect for fans of The City of Brass and The Stardust Thief.

“Aicha lit a whole bonfire in my belly, stole the air right out of my lungs and then left my heart in tiny little pieces. An incredible debut.”  ―Ellis Hunter, author of Blood Bound

Reena McCarty is a lifelong Montanan who’s constantly looking for the perfect balance of hiking, camping and impulse baking cakes. She has a BA in theater, a master’s in library science and somehow ended up cooking for a living and also for fun. When not writing, Reena can often be found wandering in the woods with her husband, admiring every dog she sees.

A former changeling must return to the land of the Fae to right a bargain that’s gone terribly wrong in this delightful cozy fantasy debut packed full of charm, adventure, romance and heart.

“The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek weaving of folklore and the hell of modern bureaucracy, combined with a twisty adventure and a dash of romance. An unflinching rendition of fae as they should be written—beautiful, bizarre, cruel, and always terrifying. McCarty is a talent!”  ―Brigitte Knightly, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy

Mia Ballard is an American poet and fiction writer. She loves all things horror and is passionate about writing stories focused on feminine rage. She lives with her partner and dog in Northern California.

An unapologetic, visceral revenge horror novel about a woman in captivity who blurs the line between human and beast in order to survive, perfect for fans of Nightbitch and Mona Awad. 

“Mia Ballard is a f*cking powerhouse.” —Olivia Blake, author of Girl Dinner

“Deeply unsettling. The perfect book for horror readers.” —Sadie Hartmann, author and co-owner of Night Worms

SIT. SPEAK. STAY. 

Anuja Varghese writes literary fiction, SFF, and erotica/romance—and combinations of all three—where women of color get leading roles! Her award-winning work has been featured in many literary magazines and anthologies. Anuja lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her partner, two kids, and two cats.

Inspired by medieval India’s most epic love stories, this debut Romantasy blends rich storytelling, lush worldbuilding, and spice of every variety. Perfect for fans of Nisha J. Tuli and Tasha Suri.

“Two words: beautiful chaos. And I’m here for every second of it! A Kiss of Crimson Ash is the ultimate thrilling, clever, and swoony romantasy, following the epic journey of characters who feel as real as the rich and vibrant world that they move through. Every page left me highly entertained and very much impressed. Anuja Varghese is an incredible storyteller with a knack for punching you right in the heart.” —Thea Guanzon, New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars

Cho Yeeun has enthralled the Korean literary scene since her notable debut clinching the Kyobo Book Award with her first novel. Since, Cho has become known for weaving chilling, genre-bending stories set in dystopian worlds teetering on the edge of collapse. Young female readers have particularly connected with her stories, enthusiastically immersing themselves in what they’ve dubbed “Yeeun’s World” and celebrating her complex, unconventional female characters. Her English-language debut, New Seoul Park Jelly Vendor Massacre (Honford Star, 2024) cemented her reputation as a bold and daring voice in horror.

A young woman and a possessed teddy bear and set out on a revenge quest unlike any other in this stylish slasher from Cho Yeeun, a rising star in Korean horror.

“Part buddy heist flick, part supernatural slasher revenge, Teddy Bears Never Die is a grotesque, hilarious, and heart-felt romp that will make you believe anything is possible with the power of friendship and extreme violence!” —Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow

Shiloh Briar is an author who enjoys living in fantasy worlds and chronicling the adventures of characters she has “known since childhood”. She is active on TikTok and Instagram, where she draws and paints the characters from Hopeless Necromantic.

SHE RAISES HELL. HE RAISES THE DEAD. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life—and death—start to get a little complicated.

Helspira must play escort to Sikras—a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead—as he attempts a mission that he’s failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.

No one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer—and Sikras’s lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel—will Sikras’ and Helspira’s changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?

RAISE A GLASS. RAISE THE DEAD. JUST DON’T RAISE YOUR HOPES.

Shannon K. English grew up in the north of England, where the wind screams over the moors and the sky looks different every day. She tries to imbue her writing with her love of mythology and the endlessly changing moods of the sea. As an asexual and panromantic author, she tells the fantasy stories she wants to read: troubled characters in troubling situations. She lives in Scotland with her partner James and assorted pets, summiting hills and looking out over the wild ocean. Her biggest literary influences and favorite writers include Ursula Le Guin, Shannon Hale and Jack London.

In this hauntingly romantic, queer fantasy from debut author Shannon K English, a young mermaid is forced to choose between her old life above the waves and her new life below them.

On land, Eppie will never be anything more than the outcast girl who kissed the grocer’s daughter. But beneath the water’s surface lies a future and a society she could never have imagined. Stolen from the shore, she is transformed. Eppie is stronger, swifter—and hungrier. Human flesh smells like heaven on earth, and Eppie is ravenous. 

She has become a monster of the deep—a mermaid. 

Despite the horror of her new appetites, Eppie learns to love this strange second life. The mermaid colony is mesmerizing and Eppie’s new sisters are fiercely loyal. And when Eppie meets Marie, a stunningly beautiful mermaid with a past as shadowed as her raven-black scales, she finds she no longer needs to resist the desires that were denied to her on land.  

But dark sails are on the horizon. The mermaid hunters are coming, armed with cannons and Biblical wrath. Eppie must decide whether to protect the new, monstrous family she’s found or leave it all behind for a chance to live above the waves once again. 

Megan Bontrager is an author of SFF and horror currently based in Ireland, where she is a PhD candidate at NUI Maynooth. Her short fiction has previously been published with Quill & Crow Publishing House, Cypress Dome Literary Magazine, Frontier Poetry, and 30 North Literary Magazine. Megan’s indie debut, Eye of the Ouroboros, was published in 2024. When she isn’t frantically scribbling down her next big idea, Megan enjoys playing TTRPGs and volunteering with animal rescues. She is responsible for two furry children, and hopes to support their lavish lifestyles with her books.

Trapped in an underwater cave, a group of academics must face a series of deadly, supernatural trials—each one demanding they confront their darkest sins—in this chilling aquatic cult horror debut from Megan Bontrager.

“Dark, bone-chilling, and utterly twisted, The Sea Hides its Dead will drag you into its depths with only a flare to light your way. Bontrager’s gripping writing steals you from the very beginning and doesn’t let up until you’re gasping for more.”  —Deena Helm, author of Our Cut of Salt

Jamie Thomas teaches Diploma Programme Language and Literature at an International Baccalaureate school in Tacoma, Washington where she lives in a one hundred and twenty-five-year-old house with her husband, two children, and (according to said husband) too many animals. She also holds a masters degree in vocal performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her first adult novel, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall, was released on February 11, 2025, which she also narrated. 

A daring and romantic story awaits you within the pages of Asperfell…

Even as an old maid of twenty, Briony has no interest in the rituals of the court, especially when her kingdom’s ruler has an obsession with brutally eliminating anyone who can use magic from the land. When Briony is arrested for showing signs of magic, she evades a death sentence by jumping through the gate to Asperfell, an enchanted prison built to hold the darkest and most dangerous of Mages. Trapped amongst the hopeless, the violent, the deranged, Briony does her best to stay alive while also desperately trying to understand her new powers.

Louisa Carmody wrote her debut novel, The Shadows that Listen, at 19 years old and rewrote it at 26 while juggling full-time work. She originally wrote the story because it was something that she wanted to read, and it is now enjoyed by those who want a book that will make them laugh, cry, and scream. When Louisa isn’t curled up writing or reading, she’s usually spending time in the sun by the water.

DISCOVER THE ANGELS VS DEMONS DYSTOPIAN ROMANTASY SENSATION

WHO WILL SURVIVE THE NIGHT?

The Shadows that Listen is an unputdownable dystopian romantasy with a delicious slow burn romance, from debut author Louisa Carmody. Perfect for fans of Crescent City and Shadowhunters.

“A magical debut; I feel I have witnessed the beginning of a new legend.”  —Brigitte Knightley, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

Christine Cowan is a Nigerian-American romance author based in Virginia. With a flair for blending humor and depth, her work invites readers to escape into stories that feel both relatable and unforgettable. When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with family.

Wahala (noun, Nigerian): Trouble; inconvenience; problem, bother

In Kamalu Lane, Nneka is a witch grappling with an ancient family curse that says she must find her soulmate or risk all the witches of Kamalu Lane losing their powers forever. 


In a desperate attempt to force fate’s hand, Nneka brews a love potion, but chaos erupts when the potion is accidentally added to Nneka’s famous puff puffs, causing every man who eats them to fall in love with her, except Dakoru, the handsome architect determined to reshape Kamalu Lane. 



Though Nneka feels an undeniable connection with Dakoru, she knows falling for a human could doom them both. But Dakoru is no ordinary man and it’s clear he is connected to magic in some way. 


As their connection grows, Nneka must determine if Dakoru is the key to breaking her curse and restoring balance to Kamalu Lane before its future is lost forever.

A.T. Rainach has been telling stories since she could write. She holds a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing and is both a fiction author and a published poet with a love for lyrical language and dark, fantastical worlds. Off the page, she’s a lifelong barrel racer, horse trainer, and full-time wrangler of three feral children. In rare quiet moments, she’s probably reading, adding to her tattoo collection, listening to music, or playing guitar (she admits her enthusiasm exceeds her skill).

Aris, the immortal god of war, cannot believe his eyes: the reincarnated soul of his truest love, the one who literally died right in front of him, is shining through the body of Grace, a young American heiress who is desperately trying to escape her forced betrothal to a horrific English aristocrat. As Aris helps Grace flee England, trying (and failing) to ignore the burning passion reigniting steadily within him, he makes it his mission to discover how this particular human soul came to be reborn on Earth once more. But Aris isn’t the only one suddenly pursuing Grace’s affection—his brother Nox, the god of death, also sets his sights on her, reigniting a centuries old fraternal struggle for love and power.