Oregon has many fantastic authors, and Salem and Marion County are home to some of these literary luminaries. The famous science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin resided in Portland, and so did the author of “The Clan of the Cave Bear,” Jean Auel, as well as Katherine Dunn, author of the popular book “Geek Love.” Ken Kesey, famous for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Sometimes a Great Notion,” lived in Springfield. Beverly Cleary, author of the famed Ramona Quimby series, “Ralph S. Mouse,” and many more favorite children’s books, grew up in Yamhill, McMinnville, and Portland. Famed adventure and true crime writer Jon Krakauer grew up in Corvallis, and Frank Herbert, who wrote the popular “Dune” series, graduated from Salem High School in 1939. Currently, more than 1,600 authors reside in Oregon. The greater Portland area plays host to the lion’s share of Oregon authors, but the mid-valley has some pretty great authors of its own.
Colleen Houck
The Tiger Saga
Reawakened Series
“The Lantern’s Ember“
“Terraformer”
New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck, a Salem resident, has written two young adult (YA) fantasy series and two YA standalone novels. The Tiger Saga has been a fan favorite. Book 1 came out in 2011, and Book 6 was released in September 2024. The Tiger’s Curse saga follows a young woman, Kelsey Hayes, as she travels through India to break an ancient curse that has been placed on the brothers Ren and Kishan, two princes who were turned into tigers by the evil wizard Lokesh. The ensuing love triangle in this story has now captivated readers all over the world, with many collecting tigers.
Houck’s Reawakened Series comprises four books that take the reader on a spellbinding quest through Ancient Egypt. “The Lantern’s Ember” and “Terraformer”are standalone novels full of intrigue, mystery, and fantasy.
Raphael Pond
“Bell Tower“
Raphael Pond and his wife reside in Salem, where they take advantage of the numerous great opportunities for local outdoor adventures, including hiking, swimming, and rock climbing. Pond’s recently released book, “Bell Tower,”is a gripping science fiction novel pitting technology against humanity. The story takes place in a future where one phrase can heal any pain, but the mysterious Sasha Sumzer, a meditation teacher with a dark side, closely guards this power.
Irene Bennett Brown
The Women of Paragon Spring series (4 titles)
Celia Landrey Series (2 titles)
Nickel Hill Series (2 titles)
Standalone novels (12 titles)
Nonfiction, “Chaff ‘n’ Chatter”
Jefferson resident Irene Bennett Brown has a long list of historical and western romance books to be proud of. Brown was born in Topeka, Kansas, but grew up in the Willamette Valley. After writing children’s and YA books for several years, “The Plainswoman” was Brown’s first novel for adults, followed by the Paragon Springs Series and the standalone love story set in Oregon’s Hells Canyon, “Haven.”
Brown has won awards from the Western Writers of America, including the Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Contributions to Western Literature.
Heather Ames
Ghost Ship Series (3 titles)
Brian Swift & Kaylen Roberts Series (3 titles)
Standalone Novels (3 Titles)
Heather Ames has lived in five countries and seven states. Her wide swath of life experiences contributes significantly to her suspense thriller series and standalone novels. From Ghost Ship’s reluctant psychic who inherits a metaphysical shop in Salem, to Brian Swift and Kaylen Roberts’ unlikely crime-solving duo of a socialite and a homicide detective on suspension for allegedly taking bribes, this author is worth the read.
Dr. David G. Lewis
“Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley”
In the fall of 2023, Dr. David G. Lewis published his first book about the local native people, touching on every element of the Willamette Valley and the natives’ relationship to it. From the rivers to the mountains, the deer to the flowers, from politics to settlers, and farmers to reservations, Lewis reveals the stories and histories of the indigenous people of the Willamette Valley.
Lewis’s narrative style is engaging, and the photos, detailed maps, and graphics tell a historical, human story that is a must-read. “Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley” is an essential resource for undoing the erasure of Indigenous peoples’ stories.
William D. Burt
Creation Seekers Series (2 titles)
The King of the Trees Series (7 titles)
Aurora resident William D. Burt has captured the imagination of children and young adults with his two Christian fiction series, “The King of the Trees” and “Creation Seekers.” “The King of the Trees”is a fantasy adventure series for young readers with homeschool resources available on Burt’s website. His second series, “Creation Seekers,” is a sci-fi adventure set in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Joan Dalton
“Second Chances: The Transformative Relationship Between Incarcerated Youth and Shelter Dogs“
In May, Portland author Joan Dalton released her first book, “Second Chances: The Transformative Relationship Between Incarcerated Youth and Shelter Dogs.” The inspiring book takes place at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn and tells the story of lost boys and unwanted dogs finding their way back to love and trust.
Looking for your next great read? Consider picking up a book by a local author! You might find the perfect story waiting for you at one of Salem’s excellent bookstores.
