Picture a storyteller who galloped from a New Mexico ranch to the literary hills of the UK, weaving tales of mystery and identity—meet Iza Moreau! This multi-talented author, with a knack for crafting lesbian-led narratives, has captivated readers with her Small Town Series and groundbreaking Elodie Fontaine Mysteries, blending her love for horses, journalism, and LGBTQ+ representation into unforgettable stories.
Born amidst the dusty trails of a New Mexico ranch, Moreau’s life is as colorful as her fiction. From reporting in war-torn Baghdad to teaching journalism in Florida, her experiences shape her vivid, character-driven plots. Now settled in the UK, she continues to bridge cultures and genres, inviting readers into worlds where small-town secrets and teenage sleuths reign supreme.
The Making of Iza Moreau
Raised on a New Mexico ranch, Moreau learned to ride horses before she could write. Her early love for storytelling led her to the University of New Mexico, where she earned a degree in English Literature. She later honed her journalistic chops at Columbia University, co-editing a literary magazine and reporting from Baghdad. These adventures fueled her ability to craft authentic, gritty narratives. After settling in North Florida, she bought a small farm, taught at Florida State University, and began penning her signature mysteries.
Iza Moreau’s Unforgettable Stories
Moreau’s Small Town Series, set in the fictional Pine Oak, Florida, follows war correspondent Sue-Ann McKeown as she unravels eerie mysteries, from ritual animal sacrifices to cryptic pirate radio signals. The series, including The News in Small Towns and Secrets in Small Towns, earned accolades like the Golden Crown Finalist and Next Generation Indie Award nominations for its blend of suspense and heartfelt lesbian romance.
Her Elodie Fontaine Mysteries, a Young Adult series, broke new ground with Elodie, the first lesbian high school sleuth. Across six novels like Tank Baby and Stormy Weather, Elodie tackles crimes from blackmail to murder, all while navigating her identity. These books, lauded with Rainbow and Lesfic Bard Awards, resonate with LGBTQ+ youth, offering a modern twist on Nancy Drew-style adventures.
Moreau’s versatility shines in works like Swamp Girl, a Rainbow Award-winning Young Adult novel, and Persephone’s Mare, a fantasy blending horses and magic. Her literary novel, London, Falling, explores identity in hippie-era London, showcasing her ability to weave personal experience into diverse genres.
Why Iza Moreau Matters
Moreau’s impact lies in her trailblazing representation of lesbian characters in mystery and Young Adult fiction. Her stories, rich with cultural nuance and small-town charm, offer visibility to LGBTQ+ readers while appealing to a broad audience. By drawing on her global experiences, she crafts narratives that feel both intimate and universal, earning her a loyal following and critical acclaim.
- Key Works: Small Town Series, Elodie Fontaine Mysteries, Swamp Girl, Persephone’s Mare
- Awards: Rainbow Award Winner, Lesfic Bard Award Winner, Golden Crown Finalist
- Current Home: United Kingdom
Snag Tank Baby or The News in Small Towns and dive into Iza Moreau’s thrilling, heartwarming world of mystery and identity!