Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
There are few things I love more than delving into the biography of a writer. I’m endlessly fascinated by their lives and the inspiration for their work. For us author biography fans, 2025 delivered!
Among this year’s stellar author biography releases? A slim biography of Octavia Butler that I can’t stop talking about, and a Mark Twain biography that’s over 40 hours on audio. Get your author nerdery on with these excellent releases from this year.
Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris
I’ve talked a lot about this book recently, so I won’t go into great detail, but this short biography packs a punch. Writer Octavia Butler is a national treasure and one of the greatest writers we’ve ever had. Her science fiction novels are unmatched. Until I read Positive Obsession, I knew very little about Butler’s life, so I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about her story. Susana M. Morris delves into the philosophy behind her writing, providing readers with an inside look at the history and context behind Butler’s work.
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Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship by Dana A. Williams
Before Toni Morrison was a legendary writer, she was an editor. Dana A. Williams chronicles Morrison’s editorial work at Random House, where she helped shape the work of authors like Toni Cade Bambara, Leon Forrest, and Lucille Clifton. There’s something special about seeing the way Morrison invested her life and career into the work of others, ensuring that these writers had the chance to see their books out in the world.
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
Renowned biographer Ron Chernow returns with another volume chronicling the life of a prominent American historical figure. But instead of a famous general or a founding father, Chernow is looking at literary icon Mark Twain. Twain made a name for himself as a funny, charming, unforgettable, and controversial writer. It’s no surprise that he became America’s first celebrity author.
But before he wrote under the pen name of Mark Twain, there was Samuel Clemens, a young man born in a two-room cabin in Missouri. From an early age, Clemens dreamed of adventures beyond anything he’d ever known. One day, he left everything behind, headed to the Nevada territory, and found a job as a journalist, launching his writing career.
Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs
In the first major biography on James Baldwin in 30 years, Nicholas Boggs organizes the happenings of Baldwin’s life through the lens of the love Baldwin experienced. I’ve lost track of how many awards this biography has been nominated for, not to mention the seemingly endless number of “best of” lists it has landed on. Of course, as an audiobook girlie, I adore the audio edition performed by Ron Butler.
Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife by Francesca Wade
When someone in my writing group told me about a new Gertrude Stein biography, I couldn’t get my Storygraph TBR list out fast enough. Stein was a 20th-century writer and tastemaker, rubbing shoulders with some of the most prominent writers of her time. An Afterlife delves into Stein’s legacy and examines the long-lasting influence she has on literature as we know it.
You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy Reading, Friends!
~ Kendra
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