Women in Literature

Nikki Giovanni (1943–2024), celebrated poet and activist

Nikki Giovanni was an iconic poet of the 1960s and ‘70s Black Arts Movement who authored more than 30 books.

Lore Segal (1928–2024), Pulitzer Prize-finalist author

Lore Segal was an author and Holocaust survivor whose 2007 novel, “Shakespeare's Kitchen,” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction.

Tina McElroy Ansa (1949–2024), author explored the Black experience

Tina McElroy Ansa was an award-winning author best known for works like “Baby of the Family” and “Ugly Ways,” which explored the Black experience in the American South.

Edna O’Brien (1930–2024), Irish author of The Country Girls

Edna O’Brien was an Irish author whose acclaimed books included her groundbreaking 1960 debut novel, “The Country Girls.” 

Shay Youngblood (1959–2024), award-winning novelist and playwright

Shay Youngblood was an award-winning novelist and playwright who explored her upbringing as a Black woman in America.

Alice Munro (1931–2024), Nobel Prize-winning writer

Alice Munro was a Nobel Prize-winning short story author whose acclaimed work focused on womanhood and rural living.

Lynne Reid Banks (1929–2024), The Indian in the Cupboard author 

Lynne Reid Banks was an author known for such books as “The L-Shaped Room” and the bestselling children’s novel “The Indian in the Cupboard.”

Ellen Gilchrist (1935–2024), National Book Award-winning author 

Ellen Gilchrist was an author who won a National Book Award in 1984 for her story collection, “Victory Over Japan.” 

Robie Harris (1940–2024), frequently challenged children’s author 

Robie Harris was a children’s author whose books were often the target of challenges and bans.

A.S. Byatt (1936–2023), bestselling author of Possession

A.S. Byatt was a British author who won the prestigious Booker Prize for her bestselling 1990 novel “Possession: A Romance.”

Louise Glück (1943–2023), Nobel- and Pulitzer-winning poet 

Louise Glück was a poet and essayist whose exploration of trauma, death, loss, and struggle earned her the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, a National Book Award, and many others.

Edith Grossman (1936–2023), Gabriel García Márquez's translator 

Edith Grossman was a literary translator best known for her work with the novels of great Spanish-language authors.

Ama Ata Aidoo (1942–2023), award-winning Ghanaian author, politician

Ama Ata Aidoo was a Ghana-born writer, poet, politician and academic known for works such as “Our Sister Killjoy,” “Changes: A Love Story,” and “The Dilemma of a Ghost.”

Julie Anne Peters (1952–2023), groundbreaking YA author of Luna 

Julie Anne Peters was an author of young adult books including “Luna,” one of the first to feature a transgender character.

Marianne Mantell (1929–2023), audiobook pioneer

Marianne Mantell was an American writer, editor, and producer who helped launch the audiobook industry when she co-founded Caedmon Records, widely considered to be the first major label to focus on spoken-word literature.

Marijane Meaker (1927–2022), award-winning young adult and lesbian author

Marijane Meaker was an author of pioneering young adult and lesbian fiction, including under such pen names as M.E. Kerr and Vin Packer.

Hilary Mantel (1952–2022), award-winning author of “Wolf Hall”

Hilary Mantel was a British author who won the prestigious Booker Prize twice, for her novels “Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up the Bodies.”

Melissa Bank (1961–2022), author of “The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing”

Melissa Bank was the author of the influential 1999 best seller “The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing.”

Priscilla Tolkien (1929–2022), daughter of J.R.R. Tolkien

Priscilla Tolkien, the youngest child of The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien, was Vice President of The Tolkien Society .

Joan Didion (1934–2021), award-winning novelist and journalist

Joan Didion was a novelist and journalist who won the National Book Award for Nonfiction for her 2005 book “The Year of Magical Thinking.”

bell hooks (1952–2021), acclaimed feminist author

Author bell hooks was acclaimed for her writing on race and gender.

Anne Rice (1941–2021), ‘The Vampire Chronicles’ author

Anne Rice , the author of the popular vampire novel series ‘The Vampire Chronicles,’ died Saturday evening, her son Christopher announced on social media.

Marie-Claire Blais (1939–2021), author known for “A Season in the Life of Emmanuel”

Marie-Claire Blais was an acclaimed French-Canadian author known for books including “Une Saison Dans la Vie d’Emmanuel” (“A Season in the Life of Emmanuel”)

Eloise Greenfield (1929–2021), children’s author who depicted Black lives

Eloise Greenfield was a children’s author whose picture books told stories of Black lives and history.

Lucinda Riley (1966–2021), author known for “The Seven Sisters” series

Lucinda Riley was a bestselling Irish author of historical fiction, known for her “The Seven Sisters” series and her 2019 No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller, “The Butterfly Room.”

Beverly Cleary (1916–2021), award-winning “Ramona” series author

Beverly Cleary penned award-winning books for children and young adults including the popular "Ramona" series, notably the National Book Award-winning “Ramona and Her Mother” as well as “Ramona the Brave,” “Ramona Quimby, Age 8,” and “Ramona Forever.”

Margaret Maron (1938–2021), award-winning mystery novelist

Margaret Maron was a mystery novelist known for books including her Sigrid Harald series.

Diane di Prima (1934–2020), feminist Beat poet

Diane di Prima was a poet of the Beat Generation, one of the last surviving members of that famed group of poets.

Bette Greene (1934–2020), “Summer of My German Soldier” author

Bette Greene was an author of children’s and young adult books including the 1973 National Book Award finalist “Summer of My German Soldier.”

Florence Howe (1929–2020), women’s studies pioneer

Florence Howe was a pioneer of women’s studies and the founder of the Feminist Press.  

Gail Sheehy (1933–2020), journalist and author

Gail Sheehy was a journalist and author known for her best-selling book “Passages” and as a writer for New York Magazine.

Ruth Weiss (1928–2020), pioneering female beat poet

Ruth Weiss was a pioneering female poet of the Beat Generation and one of the first people to perform jazz poetry. 

Joanna Cole (1944–2020), “The Magic School Bus” author

Joanna Cole was a children’s author best known for her “The Magic School Bus” series.

Mary Higgins Clark (1927–2020), bestselling author was the “Queen of Suspense”

Mary Higgins Clark was the prolific and best-selling “Queen of Suspense.” Her dozens of suspense novels include “A Stranger Is Watching,” “While My Pretty One Sleeps,” and “Loves Music, Loves to Dance.”  

Johanna Lindsey (1952–2019), bestselling romance novelist

Johanna Lindsey was the bestselling author of more than 50 romance novels. She often wrote historical romances, with settings including medieval England, Viking-era Norway, the American Wild West, and Regency England. Some strayed from the historical pattern, including a time-travel series and a futuristic series set in outer space. Lindsey’s books were dismissed by some as bodice-rippers, but they were wildly and beloved by her readers and sold more than 60 million copies. Her titles included "Savage Thunder," "Captive of My Desires," "Once a Princess," and her most recent, 2019's "Temptation's Darling." Several of her novels featured cover model Fabio, including 1987’s “Hearts Aflame,” an early career hit for the young model.

Anne Rivers Siddons (1936–2019) bestselling author of “Peachtree Road”

Anne Rivers Siddons was the bestselling author of novels including 1988’s “Peachtree Road,” the Atlanta-based story that Pat Conroy called “the Southern novel for our generation.”

Toni Morrison Changed Literature and the World: A Tribute

When we speak these days of “queens,” it is a sweet and well-meaning hyperbole. Beyonce is a queen. Your girlfriend is a queen. We get that those instances are a caprice. But when you use the word in relation to Toni Morrison, it must be said with all of the qualities the word “queen” possesses.

Toni Morrison (1931–2019), Nobel Prize-winning author of “Beloved”

Toni Morrison was the Nobel Prize-winning author of best-selling novels including “Beloved,” “Song of Solomon,” and “The Bluest Eye.” Her critically acclaimed books told powerful stories of black lives in America, from the time of slavery through modern days. “Beloved” (1987) won the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award, while “Song of Solomon” (1977) had the distinction of being the first book by a black author chosen as a main selection of the Book of the Month Club since Richard Wright’s “Native Son,” 37 years earlier. Her most recent work was “God Help the Child” (2015) and she also wrote non-fiction, children’s literature, and plays including “Desdemona.” When she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, Morrison became the first black woman to win a Nobel Prize. She was recognized with many other honors including the National Humanities Medal in 2000, the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction in 2011, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented to her by President Barack Obama in 2012.

Judith Krantz (1928–2019), bestselling romance novelist wrote "Scruples"

Judith Krantz was a bestselling romance novelist whose wildly popular books sent their heroines on opulent shopping sprees between sessions of steamy sex.

Maureen Beebe (2019), inspired children's book "Misty of Chincoteague"

Maureen Beebe Hursh was one of the inspirations for the classic children's novel "Misty of Chincoteague" by Marguerite Henry.

Vonda McIntyre (1948–2019), author who gave George Takei's Mr. Sulu his name

Wrote novelizations of Star Trek films including “Search for Spock.”

Betty Ballantine (1919–2019), paperback pioneer

Publisher popularized the paperback and science fiction through Ballantine books.

Mary Oliver (1935–2019), Pulitzer Prize-winning poet

Beloved poet wrote about nature.

Ntozake Shange (1948–2018), pioneering black feminist poet and playwright

Wrote the influential play ‘For Colored Girls’ which won an Obie Award.

Anita Shreve (1946 – 2018), best-selling author of “The Pilot’s Wife”

Anita Shreve, the best-selling novelist who explored how women responded to crises past and present in her native New England in favorites such as "The Pilot's Wife," ''Testimony" and "The Weight of Water," has died, according to the Associated Press. She was 71.

Emily Nasrallah (1931 – 2018), Lebanese author and women’s rights activist

Goethe medal award winner…

Penny Vincenzi (1939 – 2018), best-selling author

Her books featured romance and family secrets…

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929 – 2018), Grand Master of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Beloved author of Earthsea and The Left Hand of Darkness...

Sue Grafton (1940–2017), alphabet mystery novelist

Author's Kinsey Millhone series began 35 years ago with "A is for Alibi."