8 Legendary Authors from the Lone Star State

If you’re a Texas reader or writer, you might be wondering if any well-known authors hail from the Lone Star State. Perhaps you’re looking for inspiration as a writer yourself—or just a good book to read. Night Heron Media’s got you covered! We have compiled a handy list for your convenience of great authors who have been born, raised, or live in the great state of Texas. Read on to see who they are!

Amy Gentry
Amy Gentry is a book reviewer for the Chicago Tribune. Her essays have been published in numerous publications, but more importantly, she was born and lives in Houston, Texas. She is a bestselling author of two suspense titles.

If you’re looking for a good suspense novel, check out her New York Times bestseller, Good as Gone—or her recently published psychological thriller about a grad student and a deadly rivalry, Bad Habits.

Attica Locke
Attica Locke is an author and screenwriter, and while she currently resides in Los Angeles, she is a native of Houston, Texas. She’s been nominated for an Edgar Award and an NAACP Image Award and has won the Harper Lee Prize for her novel, Pleasantville.

If you’re looking for a great read that’s set in the south, look no further than The Cutting Season, which takes place in Louisiana in the 21st century.

Lara Prescott
Lara Prescott is a best-selling author who lives in Austin, Texas. She received her MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas before publishing her best-selling debut novel, The Secrets We Kept, a thrilling historical tale.

While The Secrets We Kept is her only book at the moment, she has also had writing published in Tin House, The Southern Review, and The Hudson Review, among other journals. If you haven’t read her novel, check out her New York Times bestseller.

Bryan Washington
Bryan Washington is an up-and-coming author from Houston, Texas. While he was born in Kentucky, he was raised in Houston, where his collection of short stories, Lot, takes place. His writing has appeared in countless publications, including The New Yorker, Catapult, Tin House, The Paris Review, and Vulture.

His newest book, Memorial, dropped at the end of October and is both a Book of the Month pick and a Good Morning America Book Club pick, and is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for an LGBTQ/coming-of-age novel.

Stephen Harrigan
Stephen Harrigan is an author, journalist, and screenwriter who grew up in Texas. He’s a writer for Texas Monthly, and his essays have appeared in many other publications as well. His books have received several awards, including the Spur Award and the TCU Texas Book Award.

One of his most recent books is Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas, which was published by the University of Texas Press and is an appropriate pick for those who might want to learn more about the ins and outs of Texas history.

Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author from Texas. McMurtry’s love for Texas shines through in his books, of which the majority takes place in the state. In addition to writing books, he is a screenwriter and has played a part in a few film adaptions.

If you’re from Texas and haven’t read any of his books, we recommend checking out his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Lonesome Dove, a western set in a small Texas town.

Paulette Jiles
Paulette Jiles is an author and poet who lives in San Antonio, Texas. One of her most recent novels, Simon the Fiddler, takes place in Texas, despite her childhood growing up elsewhere.

Additionally, her book, News of the World, a National Book Award finalist, takes place partially in San Antonio. For those who are looking for an adventurous historical fiction novel, this is a perfect choice.

Rick Riordan
This one’s for the kids! Rick Riordan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and most famously known for his Percy Jackson series. You might not have guessed it, but he was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He’s won several awards, including the Goodreads Choice Award in best middle-grade & children’s, the Edgar Award for best paperback original, and the Hampshire Book Award.

If you’re looking for something new to read for your child, you might start with The Lightning Thief (the first of the Percy Jackson series).

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By Krynn Hanold, Intern

Krynn is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and holds a B.F.A. in Writing and Applied Arts. She enjoys reading literary and upmarket fiction, sci-fi, and narrative nonfiction. She's incredibly passionate about publishing, and looks to start a career in the field.