Picture a Canadian storyteller who turned anxiety and quirky humor into literary gold—meet Emily R. Austin! Born in St. Thomas, Ontario, this rising star of contemporary fiction burst onto the scene with her debut novel, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, a darkly funny exploration of mortality, identity, and the human condition. With a voice that’s equal parts witty and profound, Austin has carved a unique space in modern literature, captivating readers with her relatable characters and sharp insights.
The Making of Emily R. Austin
Growing up in Southwestern Ontario, Emily R. Austin faced early challenges with dyslexia, which made her an unlikely candidate for literary stardom. Yet, her love for storytelling blossomed at age 13 when a high school English assignment earned her an A+, shifting her trajectory from struggling student to aspiring author. She pursued English literature, religious studies, and library science at Western University, later working at the Pride Library and an elementary school library. Two writing grants from the Canadian Council for the Arts fueled her creative journey, leading to her breakout success.
Emily R. Austin’s Unforgettable Stories
Austin’s debut, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead (2021), follows Gilda, a queer, atheist lesbian grappling with debilitating anxiety and an obsession with death. Mistakenly hired as a Catholic church receptionist, Gilda’s bumbling attempts to hide her identity while investigating her predecessor’s mysterious death create a hilarious yet poignant narrative. The novel’s sharp humor and raw honesty earned it a spot on the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour longlist and the Amazon First Novel Award shortlist.
Her second novel, Interesting Facts About Space (2024), dives into the life of Enid, a space-obsessed woman navigating dating, family estrangement, and paranoia about a potential stalker. Infused with quirky humor and heartfelt moments, it became Canada’s #1 bestselling LGBTQIA+ book in 2024. Austin’s third novel, We Could Be Rats (2025), and her poetry collection, Gay Girl Prayers (2024), further showcase her versatility, blending existential dread with hope and wit. Her style—marked by fast-paced prose, neurotic protagonists, and themes of queerness, mental health, and mortality—resonates deeply with millennial readers.
Why Emily R. Austin Matters
Emily R. Austin’s work offers a fresh lens on contemporary fiction, transforming heavy topics like anxiety and identity into stories that are both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving. Her queer representation and unflinching portrayal of mental health challenges have struck a chord, particularly with readers who feel seen in her flawed, lovable characters. By turning personal struggles like dyslexia into creative fuel, Austin inspires aspiring writers to embrace their unique voices. Her growing influence in Canadian literature signals a bright future for this bold storyteller.
- Born: St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
- Key Works: Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, Interesting Facts About Space, We Could Be Rats, Gay Girl Prayers
- Awards: Longlisted for Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal, shortlisted for Amazon First Novel Award
- Fun Fact: Austin once worked at Western University’s Pride Library, championing queer literature.
Snag Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and dive into Emily R. Austin’s hilarious, heartwarming world of quirky fiction!