Shelley Parker-Chan is a highly acclaimed Asian-Australian author, known for their intelligent and forward-looking fantasy novels. Parker-Chan has a background in activism, particularly in the fight for LGBT rights, and has worked as a diplomat and in international development. Throughout their career, they have been a champion of gender rights, making significant changes in the field. These experiences and values have all fed into their writing, making Parker-Chan one of the most compelling writers in fantasy fiction today.\n \n Parker-Chan's debut historical fantasy novel, She Who Became the Sun, was a number one Sunday Times bestseller and has been translated into 15 languages. The novel has won several awards, including the Astounding Award for Best Debut and the British Fantasy Awards for Best Fantasy Novel and Best Newcomer. Parker-Chan has also been a finalist for the Lambda, Locus, Aurealis, Ditmar, and British Book Awards.
Parker-Chan, who uses they/them pronouns, was raised on a steady diet of Greek myths, Arthurian legend, and Chinese tales of suffering and tragic romance. These influences are evident in their writing, particularly in She Who Became the Sun. In 2017, Parker-Chan was awarded an Otherwise (Tiptree) Fellowship for a work of speculative narrative that expands our understanding of gender. They currently reside in Melbourne, Australia, with their family.