Picture an American storyteller who spun eerie vintage photographs into a global phenomenon—meet Ransom Riggs! Best known for Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Riggs blends haunting imagery with young adult fantasy, captivating readers with tales of time loops and peculiar powers. His unique storytelling has left an indelible mark, making him a standout in modern literature.
Born on a Maryland farm and raised in sunny Florida, Riggs’s journey from quirky kid to bestselling author is as fascinating as his novels. With a knack for visual storytelling and a love for the peculiar, he’s crafted a world that feels both timeless and thrillingly strange.
The Making of Ransom Riggs
Ransom Riggs was born on February 3, 1979, in Maryland, growing up on a 200-year-old farm before moving to Florida. At Pine View School for the Gifted, he found a haven for his nerdy passions, nurtured by his grandmother, a Latin and French teacher who sparked his love for books. Riggs studied English literature at Kenyon College, where he befriended author John Green, and later honed his visual storytelling at the University of Southern California’s film school. Early gigs blogging for Mental Floss and writing The Sherlock Holmes Handbook sharpened his creative edge, but it was his obsession with vintage photographs that set the stage for his literary breakthrough.
Ransom Riggs’s Unforgettable Stories
Riggs’s debut, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2011), is a masterclass in blending narrative and found photography. The story follows Jacob Portman, a teen who uncovers a mysterious orphanage filled with children boasting peculiar abilities, like levitation or housing bees in their bodies. Originally envisioned as a picture book, Riggs transformed his photo collection into a chilling young adult fantasy, spending over two years on the New York Times bestseller list. Its sequels, Hollow City (2014) and Library of Souls (2015), expand the peculiar world with time-travel adventures in London, while Tales of the Peculiar (2016) offers enchanting short stories styled as artifacts from the series’ universe.
A second trilogy—A Map of Days (2018), The Conference of the Birds (2020), and The Desolations of Devil’s Acre (2021)—continues Jacob’s saga in America, diving deeper into themes of identity and belonging. Riggs’s style is cinematic, weaving gothic horror, humor, and heartfelt coming-of-age moments. His use of real vintage photos, sourced from flea markets and collectors like Leonard Lightfoot, adds an eerie authenticity that makes his worlds feel hauntingly real.
Why Ransom Riggs Matters
Riggs has redefined young adult fantasy by marrying visual and literary art, inspiring readers to embrace their own peculiarities. His books, translated into over 40 languages and selling millions, resonate with teens and adults alike, offering a blend of adventure and introspection. The 2016 film adaptation of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, directed by Tim Burton, brought his vision to the big screen, cementing his cultural impact. Riggs’s ability to craft immersive, peculiar worlds has made him a beacon for aspiring writers, proving that unconventional storytelling can captivate the masses.
- Born: February 3, 1979, Maryland, USA
- Key Works: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Hollow City, Library of Souls, Tales of the Peculiar
- Notable: Married to YA author Tahereh Mafi; their daughter, Layla, was born in 2017
- Awards: New York Times bestseller for multiple titles
Snag Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and dive into Ransom Riggs’s spellbinding blend of fantasy and mystery!