Alaya Dawn Johnson

Alaya Dawn Johnson is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of English at Queens College (CUNY). She is an award-winning author specializing in speculative fiction for adults and young adults, with notable works including the World Fantasy Award-winning novel Trouble the Saints and the short story collection Reconstruction. Her writing often intersects with themes of trauma, identity, and social justice.

Awards:

• World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (Trouble the Saints)
• Ursula K. Le Guin Award finalist (The Library of Broken Worlds)

She contributes to literary discourse through her newsletter A Stranger Comes Home, which explores topics like living in Mexico, writing processes, and trauma recovery. Her academic affiliation supports her work in creative writing and literary translation programs.