Picture a Southern storyteller who weaves eerie tales from the misty graveyards of the Ozarks—meet Amanda Stevens! This award-winning author has enchanted readers with over fifty novels, blending gothic romance, paranormal mystery, and spine-chilling suspense. Her signature series, The Graveyard Queen, has earned her a cult following, with fans hooked on her atmospheric prose and ghostly plots.
Born in the folklore-rich foothills of Arkansas, Stevens grew up surrounded by superstition and stories, which fueled her lifelong love for the supernatural. From her early days as a reader to her prolific career, she’s crafted a unique niche in modern gothic literature, inviting readers to explore haunted cemeteries and unravel dark secrets.
The Making of Amanda Stevens
Amanda Stevens was raised in rural Arkansas, the youngest daughter of a quilter and a farmer. Her childhood in the Ozarks, steeped in local legends, sparked an early passion for storytelling. As a voracious reader, she devoured gothic romances by Mary Stewart and paranormal mysteries like Jane Langton’s The Diamond in the Window. These influences shaped her vivid imagination, which she later channeled into writing. In her twenties, while pursuing an English degree at the University of Houston, Stevens sold her first novel, Killing Moon, to a New York publisher after a professor’s challenge to get published. This marked the start of her prolific career, which now spans multiple genres, including thriller and romantic suspense.
Amanda Stevens’s Unforgettable Stories
Stevens is best known for The Graveyard Queen series, a modern gothic masterpiece that follows Amelia Gray, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. The series kicks off with The Restorer, a RITA-nominated novel where Amelia navigates Charleston’s haunted graveyards while solving a murder mystery. Its sequel, The Kingdom, takes readers to a ghostly town in South Carolina, unraveling secrets buried in a submerged cemetery. The Prophet and The Awakening deepen Amelia’s journey, blending suspense, romance, and supernatural dread. Stevens’s prose is lush and atmospheric, painting vivid settings that feel alive with restless spirits.
Beyond The Graveyard Queen, Stevens has penned standalone thrillers and romantic suspense novels like The Second Mrs. Malone and Criminal Behavior. Her writing is character-driven, with intricate mysteries and a knack for evoking sensory details—think the scent of damp earth or the whisper of a ghostly melody. Her love for gothic traditions shines through, earning comparisons to Daphne du Maurier for her fluid, immersive style.
Why Amanda Stevens Matters
Amanda Stevens has left an indelible mark on paranormal romance and gothic fiction, offering a fresh take on the classic ghost story. Her meticulous research into cemetery lore and Southern history grounds her supernatural tales in authenticity, resonating with readers who crave both chills and depth. The Graveyard Queen series, in particular, has inspired a devoted fanbase, with talks of a potential TV adaptation by NBC, though no recent updates have surfaced. Stevens’s ability to blend romance, horror, and mystery appeals to a wide audience, making her a standout in Southern gothic literature.
Her work also celebrates the power of place, from Charleston’s historic cemeteries to the Ozarks’ misty hills, inviting readers to explore the haunting beauty of the South. For fans of eerie narratives, Stevens is a must-read, her stories lingering like a ghostly echo long after the final page.
- Born: Arkansas, USA
- Key Works: The Restorer, The Kingdom, The Prophet, The Awakening
- Awards: RITA Award nomination for The Restorer
- Fun Fact: Stevens is a synesthete, seeing names and numbers in colors!
Ready to get spooked? Snag The Restorer and dive into Amanda Stevens’s haunting world of gothic romance and paranormal mystery!