Picture a British storyteller who reimagined vampire lore with a millennial twist—meet Claire Kohda! This English-Japanese author and former violinist burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel, Woman, Eating, a haunting blend of horror and introspective character study. With a knack for weaving identity, hunger, and belonging into gripping narratives, Kohda is a rising star in contemporary literature, promising stories that linger like a melody.
The Making of Claire Kohda
Born in 1990 in Kent’s Thanet District to a Japanese mother and English father, Claire Lyokho Kohda Hazelton grew up immersed in a rich cultural tapestry. Her early years at Clarendon House Grammar School in Ramsgate sparked a creative streak, leading her to excel as a professional violinist. Performing with the London Contemporary Orchestra and artists like Jessie Ware, she also contributed to film soundtracks like The Matrix Resurrections. Kohda’s pivot to writing began with literary reviews for The Guardian and The Times Literary Supplement, where her sharp insights into East Asian literature honed her storytelling craft.
Claire Kohda’s Unforgettable Stories
Kohda’s debut, Woman, Eating (2022), is a standout, following Lydia, a mixed-race vampire navigating loneliness and hunger in London’s art scene. Written during the COVID-19 lockdown when her music career paused, the novel subverts vampire tropes, blending humor, melancholy, and pop culture references to explore alienation and empowerment. Critics, including The New Yorker and Harper’s Bazaar, hailed it as a best book of 2022, praising its fresh take on identity. Kohda also contributed a short story to Furies: Stories of the Wicked, Wild and Untamed (2023), showcasing her versatility, and illustrated her partner Tom Lathan’s Lost Wonders (2024). Her work, marked by lyrical prose and deep character studies, bridges horror and literary fiction with a feminist edge.
Her writing style is intimate yet subversive, using supernatural elements to mirror real-world struggles like marginalization and self-discovery. Kohda’s focus on mixed-race experiences, inspired by her own heritage, adds authenticity and depth, making her stories resonate with readers seeking nuanced perspectives. As she told Curtis Brown Creative, her process is meditative, letting characters like Lydia emerge organically, a testament to her intuitive storytelling.
Why Claire Kohda Matters
Claire Kohda’s impact lies in her ability to reinvent genres while amplifying underrepresented voices. By blending vampire lore with millennial anxieties and mixed-race identity, she’s carved a niche in contemporary literature, earning accolades from The Guardian and Ruth Ozeki. Her work challenges stereotypes, offering a lens on the complexities of belonging in a globalized world. As a 2025 Women’s Prize Discoveries judge, Kohda continues to shape the literary landscape, championing bold, diverse narratives. Her growing influence signals a bright future for boundary-pushing stories.
- Born: 1990, Thanet, Kent
- Key Work: Woman, Eating (2022)
- Notable Contributions: Furies (2023), Lost Wonders illustrations (2024)
- Fun Fact: She plays the koto, a traditional Japanese zither!
Snag Woman, Eating and dive into Claire Kohda’s haunting, heartfelt world of literary horror!