Picture a queer, fat Hoosier weaving magic into the heart of Indiana—meet Sarah Hollowell! This rising star in young adult fantasy burst onto the scene with her 2021 debut, A Dark and Starless Forest, a spellbinding tale of magic and sisterhood. Beyond her gripping stories, Hollowell’s fierce advocacy against fatphobia and her mentorship of teen writers make her a literary force to watch.
The Making of Sarah Hollowell
Sarah Hollowell hails from Indiana, where she honed her craft at Ball State University, earning a degree in creative writing. Her time at Ball State wasn’t just about classes—she learned to embrace her skills, connect with mentors, and navigate the literary world. After graduating, she balanced administrative work with her passion for storytelling, drawing inspiration from horror movies, podcasts, and her love for cats. Her journey reflects a writer who found her voice by owning her identity as a queer, fat woman.
Sarah Hollowell’s Unforgettable Stories
Hollowell’s debut, A Dark and Starless Forest (2021), is a haunting YA fantasy about Derry, a fat, magical teen navigating a sinister forest to save her siblings. The novel’s vivid prose and diverse cast—queer, racially varied, and body-positive—earned it a Locus Award nomination. Her 2023 follow-up, What Stalks Among Us, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, traps two best friends in a creepy corn maze, blending thrills with bisexuality and no romance subplots. Hollowell’s style shines through lush, eerie settings and authentic characters, often exploring themes of found family, identity, and resilience. Her nonfiction, like essays in Huffington Post and The (Other) F Word, tackles fatphobia with raw honesty, while short fiction in Fireside Magazine adds speculative flair.
Her work stands out for its inclusive representation—fat, queer, and Deaf characters exist without tokenism, as seen in the siblings’ use of ASL in A Dark and Starless Forest. Hollowell’s ability to weave psychological horror with magical elements creates stories that linger long after the final page.
Why Sarah Hollowell Matters
Sarah Hollowell is more than a writer—she’s a trailblazer. Her advocacy against fatphobia, sparked by a 2018 incident with the Midwest Writers Workshop, amplifies marginalized voices, challenging stereotypes in literature and beyond. Through the Alpha Workshop, she mentors teen writers, fostering the next generation of storytellers. Her stories resonate with readers who see themselves in her diverse, unapologetic characters, proving that everyone deserves to be a hero. Hollowell’s impact lies in her ability to blend magic with real-world issues, creating a legacy of empowerment and representation.
- Born: Indiana, USA
- Key Works: A Dark and Starless Forest (2021), What Stalks Among Us (2023)
- Notable: Locus Award nominee, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard
- Fun Fact: Loves needle felting cryptids and raising cats
About Sarah Hollowell
Snag A Dark and Starless Forest and dive into Sarah Hollowell’s enchanting, eerie world of YA fantasy!