About

Author S. Chris Shirley, writer of contemporary fiction and thrillers, in a dark suit and blue shirt.

S. Chris Shirley

I write contemporary fiction about ambition, secrecy, and the illusion of control.

My debut novel, Playing by the Book (Magnus Books, 2014), won a National IPPY Award and was represented by the late George Nicholson of Sterling Lord Literistic.

I came to fiction from an unlikely place. Raised in a deeply religious Southern town, I spent years trying to become someone I wasn’t—convinced that if I worked hard enough, God would “fix” me. That secret eventually led me to the page. Playing by the Book grew out of that experience and became the first LGBTQ coming-out story to win a National IPPY Medal in the religious fiction category.

Before turning to fiction full-time, I led executive communications for three Fortune 500 CEOs—experience that informs the corporate world of my current novel, Bloody Hell.

I’m a former President of the Board of Lambda Literary and live in New York City.

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