Read local: Books by Hoosier women
You’ve heard “Shop Local.” And, “Eat Local.” But, how about “Read Local?” theCityMoms call Indiana home, where our author community is talented, diverse, and produces fantastic books. We’re sharing debuts from just a few of our fave locals!
Here are some of Hoosier State’s debut women authors that deserve to be on your TBR list this fall:
Ashley is the co-host of the super popular podcast, “Crime Junkie.” Starting with humble beginnings in a friend’s South Bend bedroom, Crime Junkie has grown into the second most listened to podcast – only behind Joe Rogan. Her debut novel “All Good People Here” takes readers to a small Indiana town filled with dark secrets. Follow a local journalist, obsessed with the murder of her childhood neighbor and then the disappearance of a girl twenty years later. Described as “twisty” and “intense,” it would be the perfect read for this spooky season.
Fort Wayne native and Ball State alum Ashley's national publications include Buzzfeed, ELLE Magazine, The Guardian, New York Magazine, and many more. Her instant New York Times best-selling memoir, “Somebody’s Daughter*,” explores Ashley’s fraught relationship with her mother and her father’s periods of incarceration throughout her childhood. Be sure to check out her podcasts, “Into the Mix,” a production by Ben and Jerry, and “Lovecraft Country Radio,” an HBO companion podcast.
*Readers should be advised of the sensitive nature of some of the content as there are references to assault and rape as Ashley shares her story.
Kim is a former school teacher turned children's book author with the release of her first picture book, “Grace and Box.” It is a story about imagination and friendship as a young girl takes on adventure after adventure with a refrigerator box. (What kid hasn’t?) Readers, young and old, will be drawn into the story thanks to the vibrant pictures, plucky main character with a penchant for science, history, and geography, and the fun– and funny– the repurposing of an object that might otherwise be trash.
While now a resident of Brooklyn, Leah Johnson hails from the west side of Indianapolis and claims to be an “eternal Midwesterner.” Leah earned her bachelor's degree at Indiana University and her YA debut, “You Should See Me In a Crown,” released in 2020. The novel is set in Indiana and is inspired by the coming-of-age movies of the 90s and 2000s. The young heroine, Liz, feels too awkward, too black, and too poor in her small town. But, at her school, there is a scholarship for the students chosen as Prom King and Queen. A scholarship that could be her ticket out of the town where she feels like a misfit: She just has to win.
Confronting diet culture, bullying, and fatphobia, Lisa Fipps of Kokomo makes a splash with her debut novel, “Starfish.” Middle School Ellie, the main character, is always confronted with comments about her size. With the help of a couple of friends and her own father, she builds her confidence to stand up to her bullies– even when they are her own family. Reviews claim this is a must for libraries serving teens and tweens, but grown readers will also find this raw story hard to put down.
Art and literature can always be found close to wherever you call home. We wanna know, who is your favorite local author?
To learn more about Indiana Authors of any gender and genre, visit Indiana Humanities and check out their biannual Indiana Authors Awards.
