Fantasy novels inspired by Filipino & Finnish history, folklore & identity.
Stories of small rebellion & subtle magic.
I’m a mixed-race Canadian fantasy author whose outsider characters find self-definition through acts of small rebellion. My work draws from Filipino and Finnish history, folklore, and culture to explore belonging in the in-between. My debut novel The Quiet is Loud was shortlisted for the 2022 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. I also write multi-genre poetry, stories, folklore essays, and the occasional zine.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably taking too many photos of trees and rambling about the latest historical fact I’ve learned.
In The Quiet Is Loud, Samantha Garner announces herself not only as a writer with a clear, fresh vision for what speculative fiction could be but also as a writer who will make it happen.
Prairie Fire
It’s a fearlessly unique book, and I look forward to whatever this exciting new author chooses to write next.
Broken Pencil
The Quiet is Loud
Adult literary speculative fiction for readers of Kazuo Ishiguro and NK Jemisin
When her prophetic dreams take a dangerous turn, Freya Tanangco is forced to sacrifice her own anonymity and fragile safety to protect those around her.
Interwoven with themes of Filipino-Canadian and mixed-race identity, fantastical elements from Norse and Filipino mythology, and tarot card symbolism, The Quiet Is Loud is an intergenerational tale about the consequences of secrets and what happens when we refuse to let others tell our stories for us.
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Think Livejournal-era vibes (without the oversharing).
What I’m Up To
Check out the latest from my journal:
Read some recent articles I’ve written:
- My monthly column at Open Book
- Character Development Lessons From Video Games at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) Blog
- We Need More Older Protagonists in Speculative Fiction – and Beyond at All Lit Up
- June Writer-in-Residence at Open Book
