Joanna Roye writes literary horror and weird fiction. She strongly believes that dark fiction can invigorate a person’s sense of empathy and create a deeper appreciation for the beautiful strangeness of the world. Her subject matter ranges far and wide but frequently includes elements of surrealism, nature, body horror, loneliness, and occasionally humor.

Joanna’s work first appeared in the anthology Black Candies: Gross and Unlikeable. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Authors. She is currently revising a novel and has more short stories forthcoming this year. Check the Publications page for a full listing. You can also read several of Joanna’s self-published works for free under the Flash Fiction page.

She holds a MA in Philosophy and a BA in Mass Media Communication (Film Studies) from Virginia Tech. In the past, she worked as a circulation specialist at the local public library before advancing to become a children’s librarian. She now stays home to take care of her kids and writes when she can.

Joanna lives in the hills south of Blacksburg, Virginia with her husband, two children, and lots of bloodthirsty cats. She loves gimlets, opossums, and strange stories from around the world.