Michelle Sagara

Michelle Sagara West is a highly accomplished author of fantasy novels, currently residing in Toronto, Canada. She writes under three different pen names: Michelle Sagara, Michelle West, and Michelle Sagara West. Her extensive body of work includes series such as The Sundered, the Essalieyan universe, which encompasses The Sacred Hunt, The Sun Sword, and The House War, as well as the Chronicles of Elantra and Queen of the Dead series. Alongside her writing career, Sagara West also works part-time at Bakka, one of Toronto's largest independent bookstores.

Born in 1963 as Michelle Michiko Sagara, she is of Japanese-Canadian descent. Her early experiences with literature shaped her future, as she recounts her childhood belief that every book was written and drawn by hand. Despite her frustration with her own writing attempts, she persisted and eventually became a successful author. Sagara West's love for books has remained unwavering, as evidenced by her vast personal collection, which she cherishes despite her switch to ebooks in later years.

In her personal life, Sagara West is married with two children and resides in Toronto, albeit without any dogs—a fact she seems to regret. She also harbors a passion for reading, which she channels not only through her writing but also as a contributor to the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Despite the challenges posed by limited shelf space, Sagara West continues to amass books and share her thoughts on the various works she encounters.