Picture a Canadian storyteller who turned childhood chills into spine-tingling tales—meet Jennifer Fawcett! Known for her haunting debut novel Beneath the Stairs, Fawcett weaves psychological thrillers and supernatural suspense that linger like a shadow in an old house. Her stories explore trauma, friendship, and the eerie line between reality and the unknown, captivating readers with atmospheric prose.
Born and raised in rural Eastern Ontario, Fawcett’s journey from theater to fiction is as intriguing as her novels. With a knack for dialogue and a love for storytelling, she’s crafted a unique space in the literary world, earning praise for her gripping narratives.
The Making of Jennifer Fawcett
Jennifer Fawcett grew up in the quiet countryside of Eastern Ontario, where a teenage adventure in a supposedly haunted octagonal house sparked her imagination. Initially dreaming of being Princess Leia, she found her calling in acting, which led to playwriting. She honed her craft with an MFA from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop and co-founded Working Group Theatre, producing award-winning plays across the U.S. and U.K. Her shift to fiction was a natural evolution, driven by a desire to explore new storytelling tools like point of view and interiority, which she couldn’t fully use in theater.
Jennifer Fawcett’s Unforgettable Stories
Fawcett’s debut novel, Beneath the Stairs (2022), is a psychological thriller about two girls confronting the aftermath of a traumatic night in a haunted octagonal house. Inspired by her own childhood experience, the book blends literary horror with suspense, earning praise as a 'chilling, mesmerizing debut' for its intricate plotting and emotional depth. Her follow-up, Keep This for Me (2025), dives into suspense with a story of a woman investigating a serial killer tied to her mother’s disappearance, based on a play Fawcett wrote years ago.
Her plays, like Apples in Winter, which won the Susan Glaspell Award, and Atlas of Mud, honored with the Kennedy Center National Science Playwriting Award, showcase her dialogue-driven style and knack for exploring human connections. Fawcett’s writing is atmospheric and layered, often tackling themes of guilt, grief, and the lasting echoes of childhood fears. Fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn will find her work irresistible for its emotional resonance and creeping dread.
Published in outlets like Third Coast Magazine and the anthology Long Story Short, Fawcett’s shorter works also highlight her versatility. Whether on stage or page, her stories invite readers to face the shadows—both real and imagined.
Why Jennifer Fawcett Matters
Jennifer Fawcett’s impact lies in her ability to transform personal experiences into universal stories of resilience and reckoning. Her transition from playwright to novelist broadens the scope of psychological thrillers, blending theatrical dialogue with introspective prose. Teaching writing at Skidmore College, she inspires students to find their voices, while her novels resonate with readers who crave emotionally rich, suspenseful tales. In a genre often dominated by predictable tropes, Fawcett’s fresh perspective and haunting narratives stand out.
Her work also bridges Canadian and American literary landscapes, drawing on her rural roots and urban experiences. As she continues to write, Fawcett is carving a niche as a storyteller who makes the ordinary feel extraordinary—and a little eerie.
- Born: Eastern Ontario, Canada
- Key Works: Beneath the Stairs, Keep This for Me, Apples in Winter
- Awards: Susan Glaspell Award, Kennedy Center National Science Playwriting Award
- Current Home: Upstate New York
Snag Beneath the Stairs and dive into Jennifer Fawcett’s thrilling world of psychological suspense!