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Bios | Author Photos | High Res Book Covers | Selected Endorsements | Full CV

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Author Bios

Short Bio | Medium Bio | Full Bio

Short Bio (42 words)

Caryn Larrinaga is an award-winning author of supernatural mysteries and horror filled with haunted places, dark folklore, and clever cats. A two-time Cat Writers Association Muse Medallion winner, she was named the League of Utah Writers’ Writer of the Year in 2021.

Medium Bio (98 words)

Caryn Larrinaga is an award-winning author of supernatural mysteries and horror filled with haunted places, dark folklore, creeping dread, and clever cats. A Basque-American writer, she often draws on Basque folklore and mythology in her fiction. Her work has earned numerous honors, including two Cat Writers Association Muse Medallions, and she was named the League of Utah Writers’ Writer of the Year in 2021. In addition to novels and short stories, Caryn has written for tabletop RPGs, podcasts, newspapers, and other publications. When she isn’t writing, she’s usually reading something spooky or catering to her feline overlords.

Full Bio (159 words)

Caryn Larrinaga is an award-winning author of supernatural mysteries and horror filled with haunted places, dark folklore, creeping dread, and clever cats. She is the author of When You Wish Upon the Dark, the bestselling Soul Searchers Mysteries, Mouse Trap, Dread Softly, Galtzagorriak and Other Creatures, and other works of dark fiction.

A Basque-American writer and Utah native, Caryn often draws on Basque folklore and mythology in her fiction. She especially loves writing about ghosts, folkloric beliefs, unsettling houses, and cats who seem to know more than they should.

Caryn’s work has earned numerous honors, including two Cat Writers Association Muse Medallions and the Gold Typewriter, and she was named the League of Utah Writers’ Writer of the Year in 2021. Her writing has also appeared in tabletop RPGs, podcasts, literary journals, newspapers, and zines.

When she isn’t writing, Caryn is usually reading something eerie, studying Euskara, catering to her feline overlords, or attempting to keep another houseplant alive.

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High Resolution Book Covers

Selected Endorsements

“I gleefully devoured Donn’s Hill in two days. Larrinaga’s friendly, conversational tone made this book a joy to read. Not only did she write funny dialogue, she masterfully crafted frightening and gruesome scenes laden with suspense.” – Sci-Fi & Scary Starred Review

“Larrinaga has a way of taking you into strange, fantastical POVs without ever making you wonder how you got there…” – Fallen Fiction Reviews

“Larrinaga blends high suspense, tense mystery, a poignant account of finding friendships and loyalty, and a touching narrative to craft this hard-to-put-down paranormal mystery series.”
– The Prairies Book Review

“Definitely pick up this book. It’s spooky and touching and will leave you with a satisfying feeling when all the details are neatly tied up in the end. I anticipate Larrinaga’s future works, as they are sure to be just as gratifying.” – Reads & Reels

“Great pacing with the action being mixed in with humor, touching moments, eerie happenings, and reflection.” – Dab of Darkness

“Who knew the slightest creak of a floorboard could be unnerving in written form.”
– C.R. Langille

Professional Organizations

  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (Full Member)
  • Horror Writers Association (Active Writer)
  • Cat Writers Association
  • League of Utah Writers
  • Women in Horror Arts & Media Association (WiHAMA)

Selected Awards (view full list in author CV)

  • The Dragon Awards (Finalist) – Horror Novel for Donn’s Hill (2017)
  • The Cat Writers Association Muse Medallion for Donn’s Legacy (2021)
  • The League of Utah Writers Writer of the Year (2021)
  • The Typewriter Awards, Gold Typewriter for “For Scrying Out Loud” (2022)
  • The Olive Woolley Burt Awards, First Place for “But I Live Here” (2022)
  • The League of Utah Writers Silver Quill Award for Novellas for Mouse Trap (2023)
  • The Cat Writers Association Muse Medallion for “The Candlewick Caper” (2024)

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