K. Ancrum

K. Ancrum
Born (1991-06-15) June 15, 1991
Other nameKayla Ancrum
Alma materDominican University
Years active2017–present
Websitekancrum.com

Kayla M. Ancrum (born June 15, 1991)[1] is an American author of young adult speculative fiction. She debuted with The Wicker King (2017). Her fourth novel Icarus (2024) won a Lambda Literary Award, while her fifth novel The Corruption of Hollis Brown (2025) won a Mythopoeic Award.

Early life

Ancrum was born in Maryland and grew up in Chicago. She began writing at age 12. She initially studied Fashion Merchandising at Dominican University before switching to English and Creative Writing, graduating in 2013.[2][3]

Career

Upon graduating from Dominican University, Ancrum signed her first book deal with Macmillan Publishers, through which she published her debut novel The Wicker King in 2017. She originally wrote the story for a friend "who felt alone in his bi identity".[4] School Library Journal reviewer Cary Frostick called it a "haunting and provocative read that will keep teens riveted."[5]

This was followed in 2019 by Ancrum's second novel The Weight of the Stars, a lesbian science fiction romance.[6][7] The Weight of the Stars was a 2019 Locus magazine pick.[8] Ancrum wrote her first two novels in a "vignette" format.[9] Ancrum's third novel, published in 2021 via Imprint (Macmillan),[10][11] was a thriller retelling of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan titled Darling, set in contemporary Chicago.[12][13]

Announced in 2022,[14] HarperTeen acquired the rights to publish Ancrum's fourth novel Icarus, a reimagining of the titular Greek myth as a modern queer coming-of-age story, in 2024.[15][16] Icarus won a Lambda Literary Award in the Young Adult category,[17] appeared on the Publishers Weekly list of best books of 2024,[18] and was a finalist for a Cybils Award for Fiction.[19] In a starred review for BookPage, Mariel Fechik called the book "a beautiful representation of queer love and a sharp, artful subversion of the original Greek Mythos."[20]

In 2025, HarperCollins published Ancrum's fifth novel The Corruption of Hollis Brown, a queer ghost story set in small town Michigan. It was longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature[21] and nominated for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the Young Adult Literature category.[22] Allie Stevens of School Library Journal described the novel as "a profoundly beautiful, achingly romantic journey."[23]

Ancrum's sixth novel Adam, Mine., a dual-perspective retelling of Frankenstein, is forthcoming from HarperCollins in September 2026.[24]

Personal life

Ancrum is bisexual and intersex.[25] She has ADHD.[9]

Bibliography

Novels

  • The Wicker King (2017)
  • The Weight of the Stars (2019)
  • Darling (2021)
  • Icarus (2024)
  • The Corruption of Hollis Brown (2025)
  • Adam, Mine. (2026)
  • Ellie Ellie (forthcoming)[26]
  • Dead End Daryl (forthcoming)[27]

Novellas

  • The Legend of the Golden Raven (The Wicker King #1.5) (2017)

Anthologies

  • The Way That Madness Lies (2021)
  • Tasting Light (2022)
  • Out There: Into the Queer New Yonder (2022)

Accolades

Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
2024 Cybils Awards for Fiction Young adult Icarus Shortlisted [19]
2025 Lambda Literary Awards LGBTQ+ Young Adult Won [28][17]
National Book Awards Young People's Literature The Corruption of Hollis Brown Longlisted [21]
2026 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Young Adult Novel Shortlisted [22]
Mythopoeic Awards Young Adult Literature Won

References

  1. ↑ Kayla Ancrum (June 15, 2018). "In honor of my 27th (!!!) Birthday I'm doing a giveaway!". Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ Adler, Dahlia (March 6, 2019). "Better Know An Author: K. Ancrum". LGBTQ Reads. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Author FAQ". K. Ancrum. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  4. ↑ Anderson, Lindsey (22 March 2024). "K. Ancrum brings Intersex representation to the page in latest novel". Seattle Gay News. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  5. ↑ Frostick, Cary (October 1, 2017). "The Wicker King". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-07-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ Sheena (28 May 2021). "The Weight Of The Stars by K. Ancrum: Audiobook Review". The Lesbian Review. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  7. ↑ Curtis, Mandy (27 March 2019). "Book Review of The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum". Forever Young Adult. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  8. ↑ Mondor, Colleen (23 December 2019). "Staff Picks: The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum". Locus. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  9. 1 2 Ramirez, Amanda (26 March 2024). "Q & A with K. Ancrum". Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "Rights Report: Week of July 8, 2019". Publishers Weekly. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  11. ↑ Regalado, Michelle (30 June 2021). "5 Captivating New Books That Reimagine Classic Stories". BookRiot. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Mondor, Colleen (5 November 2021). "Colleen Mondor Reviews Darling by K. Ancrum". Locus. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  13. ↑ "An Interview with K. Ancrum, Author of Darling". Fierce Reads. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "Rights Report: Week of August 22, 2022". Publishers Weekly. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  15. ↑ Bjork, Kiersten (25 March 2024). "YA Reimagines Tale of Icarus into Vibrant, Queer Star-Crossed Love". BookTrib. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  16. ↑ Johnson, Allyson (10 April 2021). "K. Ancrum discusses her latest novel 'Icarus'". In Between Drafts. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  17. 1 2 "2025 winners". Lambda Literary Award. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "The Best Books of 2024, According to Publishers Weekly". BookRiot. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  19. 1 2 "2024 Cybils Finalists". Children's and Young Adult Book Lover's Literary Awards. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  20. ↑ Fechik, Mariel (2024-04-08). "Book review of Icarus by K. Ancrum". BookPage | Discover your next great book!. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  21. 1 2 "The Corruption of Hollis Brown". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  22. 1 2 "Los Angeles Times Book Prizes - Honorees and Awards Ceremony". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  23. ↑ Stevens, Allie (April 1, 2025). "The Corruption of Hollis Brown". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-07-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ↑ "Adam, Mine". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  25. ↑ "Author Q & A with K. Ancrum, author of "Icarus"". Junior Library Guild. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  26. ↑ "Ellie Ellie". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  27. ↑ "K. Ancrum's Dead End Daryl Acquired by HarperTeen!". Neighborhood Literary. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  28. ↑ Lewis, L. D. (2025-07-30). "Announcing the Finalists for the 37th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Lambda Literary. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
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