Sarah L. Hawthorn
Canadian speculative fiction writer, research-buff, and frog-enthusiast.
Sarah L. Hawthorn (she/they) is a Canadian horror, historical, and speculative fiction writer. Her short fiction has been featured in The Arcanist and the Queer Blades anthology by From the Farther Trees Press. Her creative non-fiction is featured in Heartline Spec.
Sarah enjoys writing both short fiction and novels, as well as playing video games, painting, and swimming. She lives in her hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a maritime locale she loves to write spooky stories about.
Her debut novel, A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING, is slated for Summer 2026 with Poisoned Pen Press / Sourcebooks.
A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING
A year ago, Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister. Now, they live on a desolate spit of land beyond Halifax harbor. Elle, as lighthouse keeper, steers unsuspecting sailors to their destruction; those are the terms of her bargain. Liney need never know the cost. Her safety is worth every drop of blood.
But a sinner's pact is not so simple. When the devil returns, demanding more – more shipwrecks, no survivors – Elle knows what she must do to keep Liney safe...
Another ship. Another crew killed in the devil's name.
Then a woman washes ashore. Is she a soul to be sacrificed, or part of a darker design? As Liney and the stranger grow closer, Elle faces an impossible choice: kill, and break Liney's heart, or forfeit her own soul.
Danger arises from all sides: the merciless sea, ruthless men on the mainland, and the infernal bargain itself…
Souls and sisterhood, fate and fire – what must be sacrificed for the devil to get his due?
Fiction
I love to write speculative and historical fiction, especially gothic fiction. For literary inquiries, I am represented by Larissa Melo Pienkowski at Azantian Literary Agency.
Some of my favourite writers and biggest influences include Jeff VanderMeer, R. F. Kuang, Sarah Gailey, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Shelley Parker-Chan, Shirley Jackson, and Caitlin Starling.
You can find my full bibliography on my Fiction page.