Tananarive Due
Biography
Tananarive Priscilla Due is an American author known for her work in speculative fiction, horror, and historical fiction. Born in 1966 in Tallahassee, Florida, she is the eldest daughter of prominent civil rights activists Patricia Stephens Due and John D. Due Jr., whose experiences deeply inform her writing. Due earned a B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University and an M.A. in English literature from the University of Leeds. Her career took off with her debut novel, "The Between" (1995), and she has since published numerous acclaimed works, including "My Soul to Keep" and the historical novel "The Black Rose." She is also a prominent scholar and educator, serving as a faculty member in the Department of English at UCLA, where she teaches courses on Black Horror and Afrofuturism. Her contributions have solidified her reputation as a vital voice in contemporary American literature, exploring themes of race, history, and identity through the lens of the fantastic.
Selected Thoughts
«"Horror is an interesting way to talk about the things that scare us in life."»
«"The past is a monster that always finds a way to come back and haunt the present."»
«"Black horror isn't just about Black people being victims; it's about our survival, our resilience, and our power."»
Writing Style
Due's writing style is characterized by its compelling blend of literary depth with genre conventions, creating deeply atmospheric and psychologically rich narratives. She excels at crafting vivid characters and intricate plots, often infused with a sense of dread or mystery. Her prose is elegant and evocative, building suspense through subtle psychological horror and emotional resonance rather than overt scares. She seamlessly integrates historical research and social commentary into her speculative and horror frameworks, making her stories intellectually engaging while exploring complex societal issues through a supernatural or fantastical lens.