Cherie Priest

Cherie Priest is an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. She won the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel for Boneshaker (2010), a steampunk adventure set in an alternate Civil War-era Seattle overrun by zombies. Boneshaker was also a Hugo Award and Nebula Award finalist. Priest was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in Tennessee. She holds a master's degree in rhetoric from the University of Tennessee. Boneshaker is the first installment of her Clockwork Century series, an alternate history setting that became influential in the steampunk subgenre. She has published extensively across multiple genres and imprints. Priest is known for her fast-paced narratives, Southern Gothic sensibility, and ability to blend historical settings with speculative elements.