Picture a Caribbean-American storyteller who swapped engineering blueprints for bestselling novels, weaving tales of Black women who shaped history—meet Vanessa Riley! With over twenty-five novels, this historical romance and fiction author brings the Regency and Georgian eras to life, spotlighting sisterhood, resilience, and love in vibrant, multicultural worlds.
Riley’s journey from a mechanical engineering Ph.D. to literary stardom is as captivating as her stories. Her novels, praised by NPR, the New York Times, and Entertainment Weekly, blend meticulous research with heartfelt narratives, making her a trailblazer in historical fiction.
The Making of Vanessa Riley
Born to a mother who championed literature, Vanessa Riley grew up in the South, her Caribbean heritage fueling her love for diverse stories. Encouraged to read Jane Austen and Ralph Waldo Emerson, she found inspiration in untold histories. While earning her doctorate at Stanford and degrees from Penn State, Riley’s passion for romance novels bloomed, sparked by Austen’s unfinished Sanditon and its mysterious Miss Lambe, a wealthy woman of color. Her engineering career at NASA, GM, and startups honed her research skills, which she later channeled into writing.
Riley’s pivot to authorship wasn’t overnight. Balancing motherhood and a software development career, she wrote in the quiet hours, crafting stories that celebrated Black women’s agency. Her determination to restore their forgotten narratives led to a prolific career, blending STEM precision with creative flair.
Vanessa Riley’s Unforgettable Stories
Riley’s novels are a vibrant tapestry of historical romance, fiction, and mystery, centered on powerful women of color. Her breakout, Island Queen (2021), a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, chronicles Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, an enslaved woman who became a wealthy landowner. Optioned for film, it showcases Riley’s knack for vivid, empowering storytelling.
Sister Mother Warrior (2022), a sweeping tale of Haiti’s revolution, earned her the 2023 Georgia Literary Fiction Author of the Year award. Murder in Drury Lane (2024), a Regency mystery, nabbed the 2024 Georgia Mystery/Detective Author of the Year, blending Agatha Christie-inspired plots with inclusive casts. Her Rogues and Remarkable Women series, starting with A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby (2020), mixes rom-com hijinks with social commentary, earning starred reviews for its wit and heart.
Riley’s style is immersive, blending humor, romance, and historical truths. Her research-driven approach uncovers hidden figures, while her themes of sisterhood and resilience resonate across genres, making her work a bridge between past and present.
Why Vanessa Riley Matters
Vanessa Riley’s impact lies in her bold reimagining of history. By centering Black women and multicultural communities, she challenges the homogenous lens of traditional Regency narratives, offering readers a richer, truer past. Her novels empower, educate, and entertain, inspiring readers to see history’s unsung heroines. As a speaker at women’s and STEM events, Riley advocates for storytelling as a tool for empathy and change, cementing her legacy as a literary pioneer.
Her work’s critical acclaim and growing fanbase reflect her influence. From book clubs to classrooms, Riley’s stories spark conversations about race, gender, and power, making her a vital voice in historical fiction.
- Lives in Atlanta with her military husband and teen daughter.
- Key works: Island Queen, Sister Mother Warrior, Murder in Drury Lane.
- Awards: 2023 Georgia Literary Fiction Author, 2024 Georgia Mystery/Detective Author.
- Loves Earl Grey tea and Trinidadian cake recipes.
About Vanessa Riley
Ready to dive into Vanessa Riley’s dazzling worlds? Grab Island Queen and lose yourself in her empowering, history-rich tales!