Emma Törzs

Emma Törzs
Born (1987-01-08) January 8, 1987
OccupationTranslator, Professor, Author
LanguageEnglish
EducationMacalester College, BA
University of Montana
GenreSpeculative fiction
Notable worksInk Blood Sister Scribe
Notable awardsWorld Fantasy Award
O. Henry Prize

Emma Törzs (born January 8, 1987) is an American university professor and literary author whose debut novel has been optioned by Amazon MGM Studios.[1][2] She has been awarded a US National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in prose, a World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction, and the O. Henry Prize.[3]

Career

Törzs has written short fiction for a variety of publications.[4] She was awarded the O. Henry Prize for short stories in 2015, a World Fantasy Award for short stories in 2019, and an NEA fellowship in 2020.[5][6]

In 2023, Törzs published her first novel, Ink Blood Sister Scribe, about two estranged half-sisters tasked with guarding their family's library.[7] It was a Sunday Times Bestseller, a Good Morning America Book Club pick, one of the New York Times' 100 Notable Books of 2023, and one of NPR's Best Books of 2023.[8][9][10]

In May of 2024, it was announced that a film series adaptation of Ink Blood Sister Scribe titled Ink was greenlit by Gato Grande, an Amazon MGM Studios company.[11] The project will adapted by Bronwyn Garrity, and executive produced by Törzs and Gato Grande CEO Carla Gonzalez Vargas.[4][12]

Törzs teaches creative writing and Fantasy Fiction writing at her alma mater, Macalester College.[13]

Personal life

Törzs grew up in Massachusetts.[14] She holds a BA in cultural studies from Macalester College and an MFA in fiction from the University of Montana.[15]

Törzs' mother was a poet and taught creative writing and mythology at a community college.[2] She has four sisters.[2]

Bibliography

Young adult

  • Ink Blood Sister Scribe (2023)

Short stories

  • "Hard Mother" in American Short Fiction (2022)
  • "The Path of Water" in Uncanny Magazine (2022)
  • "The Hungry Ones" in Uncanny Magazine (2021)
  • "Alone" in Strange Horizons (2020)
  • "The Widow" in Beneath Ceaseless Skies (2020)
  • "High in the Clean Blue Air" in Uncanny Magazine (2020)
  • "Like a River Loves the Sky" winner of World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story (2019)[16]
  • "From the Root" in Lightspeed Magazine (2018)

References

  1. ^ "Literary Arts -- Meet the Creative Writing Fellows - Emma Törzs". National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved 2026-03-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c Marsh, Steve (2023-08-16). "In Conversation with Emma Törzs". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  3. ^ "Emma Törzs". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  4. ^ a b Cordero, Rosy (May 21, 2024). "Emma Törzs' YA Novel 'Ink Blood Sister Scribe' To Be Adapted As Fantasy Series By Bronwyn Garrity & Gato Grande". Deadline.
  5. ^ "36 Finalists Blog 2024: Emma Törzs - The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library". The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2026-03-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Emma Törzs - MacDowell Fellow in Literature". MacDowell. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  7. ^ Yoachim, Caroline M. (2022-01-01). "Interview: Emma Törzs". Uncanny Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Coffee and Conversation with Joshua Phillip Johnson and Emma Törzs | Cream & Amber". creamandamber.com. 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  9. ^ Staff, The New York Times Books (2023-11-21). "100 Notable Books of 2023". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  10. ^ "Books We Love". NPR. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  11. ^ Ramos-Weiner, Maribel (2024-07-05). "Gato Grande: We are working on a suspense and fantasy book that we believe will have global appeal". PRODU (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  12. ^ Virtucio, Alexandra (2024-05-22). "Emma Törzs' Ink Blood Sister Scribe Set For Series Development At Amazon MGM". ClutchPoints. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  13. ^ "Professor Emma Törzs". Macalaster English Department. Retrieved 2026-03-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Segal, Stephen H. (2023-06-19). "Emma Törzs: Explaining Things to Myself". Locus Online. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  15. ^ "Emma Törzs | Narrative Magazine". www.narrativemagazine.com. 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  16. ^ "World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story 2019". Fantastic Fiction. 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2025-03-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)