Tia Tashiro
Tia Tashiro is a speculative fiction writer from the Pacific Northwest of the United States. They have written numerous short stories throughout their career, with their work appearing in publications such as Clarkesworld, Apex, and Uncanny.
Tashiro discovered a love of writing at a young age. They began writing full-length science fiction and fantasy novels as young as age nine. By the age of sixteen, they made the conscious decision that writing was something they wanted to commit to and work to improve fully. That process included writing at least 3 times per week, with the goal of reaching 500k words. The goal was based on the advice that a writer doesn't hit their stride until they write that many words.
As an adult writer, Tia has said that some of their biggest influences are Tamsyn Muir, Octavia E. Butler, Martha Wells, and Stephen King, among others.
One of Tashiro's short stories,
To Carry You Inside, appeared in Clarkesworld. The story was born from its first line, "In your head, the dead man wakes up crying," and grew from there. The author's own experiences in neuroscience inspired the story, and she wanted to work with themes of sorrow and grief.
Another story is
What Good Daughters Do. The story involves a woman named Janey who is watching her mother in decline and grieving over the process while also seeing her mother change into something else, something horrifying and hungry. It is the story of a loyal daughter dealing with the emotions of loss while exploring the limits of her loyalty to her mother as she transforms.
In addition to her work as a writer, Tia also works in cognitive science. When not writing or working, she enjoys working with stained glass, practicing juggling, and playing sports like soccer and tennis.
Tia Tashiro: Awards & Accolades
Tia Tashiro was nominated for the Hugo Award, Astounding Award for Best New Writer, in 2025.