Famous Authors from Colorado

Here is a list of famous authors who were born in Colorado:

Ken Kesey

Birthplace: La Junta, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works:

• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
• Sometimes a Great Notion

Notes: Ken Kesey, an influential figure of the 1960s counterculture, gained fame with his novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” He was a pivotal force blending literature with psychedelic experimentation.

John Fante

Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works:

• Ask the Dust
• Wait Until Spring, Bandini

Notes: John Fante was a novelist and screenwriter known for his semi-autobiographical “Bandini” series that vividly depicted the life of struggling writers and artists in Los Angeles.

Terence McKenna

Birthplace: Paonia, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works:

• Food of the Gods
• The Archaic Revival

Notes: Terence McKenna was a renowned ethnobotanist, philosopher, and writer who explored various subjects including psychedelic substances, plant-based entheogens, shamanism, metaphysics, alchemy, language, culture, and the theoretical origins of human consciousness.

Dalton Trumbo

Birthplace: Montrose, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works:

• Johnny Got His Gun
• Exodus

Notes: Dalton Trumbo, a renowned novelist and screenwriter, gained notoriety for his pacifist novel “Johnny Got His Gun”.

Pierce Brown

Birthplace: Denver, Colorado Notable Works: “Red Rising” series

Notes: Pierce Brown is a contemporary American author best known for his thrilling Red Rising saga, an electrifying blend of sci-fi and dystopian fiction that catapulted him to global recognition.

Connie Willis

Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, US Notable Works:

• Doomsday Book
• To Say Nothing of the Dog

Notes: Connie Willis is celebrated in the science fiction and fantasy genres. Her works commonly explore time travel and history with wit and emotional depth, often incorporating elements of comedy and tragedy.

Paul G. Tremblay

Birthplace: Aurora, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works:

• A Head Full of Ghosts
• The Cabin at the End of the World

Notes: Paul G. Tremblay is an American author acclaimed for his unsettling and psychological horror novels. He received the Bram Stoker Award and is best known for works such as “A Head Full of Ghosts” and “The Cabin at the End of the World.”

Paolo Bacigalupi

Birthplace: Paonia, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works:

• The Windup Girl
• Pump Six and Other Stories

Notes: Paolo Bacigalupi’s work often addresses the consequences of unchecked corporate greed and environmental issues. He creates vivid dystopian worlds and compelling narratives that question sustainability and humanity’s future.

L. E. Modesitt Jr.

Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works:

• The Saga of Recluce
• The Spellsong Cycle

Notes: L. E. Modesitt Jr. is renowned for his intricate fantasy and science fiction worlds, notably the Recluce series, which explores the nuanced interplay between chaos and order, colored with compelling magic and political intricacies.

Betty MacDonald

Birthplace: Boulder, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works: “The Egg and I”, “Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle” series

Notes: Betty MacDonald charmed readers with her humorous autobiographical works and delightful children’s books. “The Egg and I” recounts her adventures and misadventures running a chicken farm on the Olympic Peninsula.

Kent Haruf

Birthplace: Pueblo, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works:

• Plainsong
• Benediction

Notes: Kent Haruf’s narratives are set in the fictional town of Holt, Colorado, and are distinguished by their simple yet profound prose capturing the stark, often harsh beauty of life in the High Plains.

Linda Hogan

Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works: “Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World”

Notes: Linda Hogan is of Chickasaw descent, and her writing deeply reflects Native American culture. Her work often focuses on the environment, indigenous spirituality, and the intersection of culture and nature.

Bert V. Royal

Birthplace: Aurora, Colorado, U.S. Notable Works: “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead”

Notes: Bert V. Royal gained recognition through his play “Dog Sees God”, which reimagines characters from the comic strip “Peanuts” as teenagers. His writing often touches on themes of identity and transformation.