Bianca Marais is a accomplished author, known for her work in literary and fantasy fiction. She was born in South Africa and later moved to Toronto, where she currently resides. Marais is best known for her debut novel, "Hum If You Don't Know the Words," which gained her a wide audience and critical acclaim.\n \nMarais is also an active member of the literary community, hosting the popular podcast "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing" alongside co-host Jen Sookfong Lee. The podcast is aimed at emerging writers and aspiring authors, offering advice and insights on the craft of writing. Marais is also a creative writing teacher at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies, where she was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing in 2021.
In addition to her work as an author and teacher, Marais is dedicated to promoting diversity and representation in literature. She champions the Own Voices movement in South Africa, where she runs the Eunice Ngogodo Own Voices Initiative to encourage and empower women of color to tell their own stories.
Marais has written several novels, including "Hum If You Don't Know the Words," "If You Want to Make God Laugh," and the Audible Original "The Prynne Viper." She lives in Toronto with her husband and fur babies, continuing to write and teach, while also making a positive impact on the literary community.