Libbie Hawker is a successful American author, renowned for her literary fiction and historical fiction novels. She has written a number of captivating book series, including the White Lotus Trilogy, Old Seattle, The She-King, and The Book of Coming Forth by Day. Over the course of her career, Hawker has penned more than a dozen novels and short stories, known for their detailed information about time and place and complex characters. When not engaged in writing or reading, Hawker can be found tending to her one-acre farm located in San Juan Island. Her interests include seed-saving, with plans to establish a permaculture teaching institution and a sheep dairy in the future. Hawker's other hobbies include sewing, baking cookies, and hosting podcasts about her favorite 80s cartoon characters. Hawker currently resides in Friday Harbor, Washington, with her husband and a few cats, often sharing pictures of them and her island home on Instagram.
Hawker was born in Rexburg, Idaho, and spent her childhood alternating between the rural areas of Eastern Idaho and the greater Seattle region. She currently lives in Seattle, but has also resided in Salt Lake City, Utah; Bellingham, Washington; and Tacoma, Washington. Hawker's writing is inspired by the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region and the history of the Puget Sound. After attempting to break into the publishing industry for three years under two different pen names, Hawker decided to self-publish her work and take control of her writing career.
Hawker's writing influences are diverse, with notable inspirations including Vladimir Nabokov, Hilary Mantel, Annie Dillard, George R.R. Martin, songwriter Neko Case, and mixed-media storyteller Chris Onstad. While she primarily self-publishes her work, Hawker has also partnered with Lake Union Publishing on select titles. She has held a variety of unique jobs throughout her career, including zookeeper, show dog handler, bookseller, and yarn dyer. Hawker previously wrote historical fiction under the pen name L.M. Ironside.