Picture a British storyteller who spun a chilling tale of vampires and Victorian intrigue—meet Lauren Owen! Born in 1985 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, this English author burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel, The Quick, in 2014. With a knack for blending gothic horror with historical fiction, Owen’s work transports readers to shadowy, richly imagined worlds, earning her comparisons to Neil Gaiman and Bram Stoker. From her home in Durham, England, she continues to craft stories that haunt and enchant.
The Making of Lauren Owen
Lauren Owen’s journey to literary stardom began in the picturesque Yorkshire countryside, where she grew up surrounded by the grounds of a boarding school. A voracious reader, she found inspiration in the works of Louisa May Alcott and even dabbled in Harry Potter fanfiction as a teenager. Owen honed her craft at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, studying English Literature, before earning an MA in Victorian Literature at Leeds University and another in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. At East Anglia, she clinched the prestigious Curtis Brown Prize for her fiction, a sign of the brilliance to come. Her 2017 PhD in English Literature, focused on vampires and gothic fiction, further shaped her unique storytelling voice.
Lauren Owen’s Unforgettable Stories
Owen’s debut, The Quick, is a spellbinding gothic tale set in 1892 London. The story follows James Norbury, a shy poet who vanishes into a secret supernatural underworld, and his sister Charlotte, who braves a labyrinthine city to find him. Packed with vampires, secret clubs, and unforgettable characters like the chilling Doctor Knife, the novel blends suspense with lush historical detail. Critics hailed it as “a feast of gothic storytelling,” with Kate Atkinson calling it “impossible to resist.”
In 2022, Owen released Small Angels, a modern ghost story set in a Suffolk village. The novel weaves a hypnotic tale of a wedding disrupted by ancient magic and family secrets, centered around a haunted church. Praised for its eerie atmosphere and elegant prose, it’s been called “beautifully written” by The New York Times Book Review. Owen’s style—marked by intricate plots, vivid settings, and a knack for blending the macabre with the emotional—sets her apart as a master of contemporary gothic fiction.
Why Lauren Owen Matters
Lauren Owen’s work breathes new life into the gothic genre, marrying Victorian sensibilities with modern storytelling. Her ability to craft immersive worlds, from the sinister streets of London to the haunted woods of Suffolk, captivates readers and critics alike. By exploring themes of family, loss, and the supernatural, Owen’s novels resonate emotionally while delivering spine-chilling thrills. Her scholarly background in gothic literature adds depth, making her a fresh voice for fans of historical fiction and horror. As she continues to write, Owen’s influence on the genre promises to grow, cementing her as a must-read author.
- Born: July 6, 1985, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK
- Key Works: The Quick (2014), Small Angels (2022)
- Awards: Curtis Brown Prize (2009)
- Resides: Durham, England
Ready to lose yourself in a world of gothic mystery? Snag The Quick or Small Angels and dive into Lauren Owen’s hauntingly beautiful stories!