One of the greatest joys as an author is having your first novel get published. However, this is also an incredibly stressful time as your future career can depend on how well that first book does in sales. (Note: I’m speaking more of traditionally published novels here, not indie/self-published books.)

Since March 2020, much of the world has shut down due to SARS-COV2 (AKA “novel coronavirus”). This means new authors have an even bigger challenge in getting the word out about their books, meeting with readers, and establishing their fan base.

If you love to read science fiction and/or fantasy, please consider supporting these new authors by purchasing a copy of their first book. As a fan, you’re always looking to discover a new favorite author, right? Maybe you’ll find the next one here!

** Please note: this is a living list that I’m adding to as I learn about more 2020 debuts. Let me know if you spot any errors or omissions. Also, I am keeping this list to the science fiction & fantasy genres because that’s what my readership looks for, and what I personally enjoy reading.

Authors: if you’re not on this list and wish to be - or if you are and want me to remove your entry - please send me a message!

• Nadia Afifi, The Sentient

• Tiffani Angus, Threading the Labyrinth

• Luke Arnold, The Last Smile in Sunder City

• Darcie Little Badger, Elatsoe

• Dan Berison, Cubes: Rising

• Gautam Bhatia, The Wall

• Sarah Bond, Gravity’s Heir

• Shelly Campbell, Under the Lesser Moon

• M.A. Carrick, The Mask of Mirrors

• Doug Engstrom, Corporate Gunslinger

• J.M. Evenson, Dalya and the Magic Ink Bottle (middle grade)

• Illimani Ferreira, Terminal 3

• A.J. Fitzwater, The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper (anthology)

• A.J. Fitzwater, No Man’s Land

• Chloe Gong, These Violent Delights

• R.W.W. Greene, The Light Years

• Dan Hanks, Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire

• Essa Hansen, Nophek Gloss

• Celeste Harte, Conquest

• Crystal Huff (editor), Recognize Fascism (anthology)

• Jordan Ifueko, Raybearer

• Simon Jimenez, The Vanished Birds

• Micaiah Johnson, The Space Between Worlds

• Lavanya Lakshminarayan, Analog/Virtual (anthology)

• A.K. Larkwood, The Unspoken Name

• C.J. Lavigne, In Veritas

• Corry L. Lee, Weave the Lightning

• EeLeen Lee, Liquid Crystal Nightingale

• R.B. Lemberg, The Four Profound Weaves (novella)

• Devin Madson, We Ride the Storm

• Callum McSorley, Burying the Dragon

• Premee Mohamed, Beneath the Rising

• John P. Murphy, Red Noise

• Karen Osborne, Architects of Memory

• Chris Panatier, The Phlebotomist

• Katy Rose Pool, There Will Come A Darkness

• Aleksandra Ross, Don’t Call the Wolf

• Wayne Santos, The Chimera Code

• Constance Sayers, A Witch in Time

• Ginger Smith, The Rush’s Edge

• Andrea G. Stewart, The Bone Shard Daughter

• Lif Strand, Evolution Device

• Karah Sutton, A Wolf for a Spell (middle grade)

• Jeremy Szal, Stormblood

• K.M. Szpara, Docile

• Shvetha Thakrar, Star Daughter

• Valerie Valdes, Chilling Effect

• Marie Vibbert, Galactic Hellcats

• K.S. Villoso, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro

• A.J. Vrana, The Hollow Gods

• Juliette Wade, Mazes of Power

• Corey J. White, Repo Virtual

• E. Lily Yu, On Fragile Waves