Amal El-Mohtar

The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is literature, creative and professional writing and creative writing. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are speculative fiction. Works named in the authority record are This Is How You Lose the Time War. Distinctions recorded are Locus Award for Best Short Story, Nebula Award for Best Short Story, Hugo Award for Best Short Story and Rhysling Award.

• Name — Amal El-Mohtar • Born — 13 December 1984 • Birthplace — Ottawa, Canada • Occupation — Writer • Language — English • Genre — Science fiction, fantasy • Notable Work — This Is How You Lose the Time War • Awards — Hugo Award for Best Short Story (2017) Hugo Award for Best Novella (2020, 2026) Nebula Award for Best Short Story (2016) Nebula Award for Best Novella (2019) Locus Award for Best Short Story (2015, 2017) Locus Award for Best Novella (2020)

El-Mohtar was born in Ottawa, Ontario to a family of Lebanese descent. She said that her parents told her that she comes from a long lineage of poets. She grew up in Ottawa with the exception of two years spent in Lebanon beginning when she was six years old. It was during those two years that she first developed a love for fantasy and science fiction (she credits her Lebanese cousin with first introducing her to Doctor Who), and also wrote her first poem. As of 2026, she is pursuing a PhD in English at Carleton University and teaches creative writing at the University of Ottawa.

El-Mohtar has published short fiction, poetry, essays and reviews, and has edited the fantastic poetry quarterly magazine Goblin Fruit since 2006. She began reviewing science fiction and fantasy books for the New York Times Book Review in February 2018. She has worked as a creative writing instructor at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. In 2018, she also served as a host on Brandon Sanderson's creative writing podcast Writing Excuses for Season 13. Her 2019 novella, This Is How You Lose the Time War, co-written with Max Gladstone, won the 2019 Nebula Award for Best Novella, the 2020 Locus Award for Best Novella, 2020 Ignyte Award for Outstanding Novella, and the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novella. It was a finalist for the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award, the 2019 Los Angeles Times Book Prize inaugural Ray Bradbury Prize, and the 2019 Kitschies. The book also achieved second place for the 2020 Theodore Sturgeon Award. • Illustration — Amal El-Mohtar, winner of the Best Short Story Hugo, at the Hugo Award Ceremony 2017 at Worldcon in Helsinki El-Mohtar announced in 2019 that This Is How You Lose the Time War had been optioned for television, with scripts to be written by herself and Gladstone. In 2025, her first solo novella, The River Has Roots, was published by Tor Books. It won the 2025 Nebula Award for Best Novella and 2026 Locus Award for Best Novella. It received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was named one of "The 35 Best Books of 2025" by Esquire. "The core tale will be relatable regardless of a reader’s genre affinity: an ode to sisters’ secret languages, a paean to petty adolescent envy reshaped into the foundation for growing together into adulthood, an anthem for bloody retribution…A book you’ll want to revisit like a favorite song, especially once you know the words to sing along." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review of The River Has Roots • Illustration — Amal El-Mohtar reading, Åcon 2019. Her fourth book, Seasons of Glass & Iron: Stories, was published by Tor Books on March 24, 2026. The collection was named one of "The Best Books of 2026" by Esquire. "El-Mohtar writes beautifully of ancestry, culture, and the natural world—particularly birds and gemstones—and wades thoughtfully through the depths of sorrow, isolation, and otherness…A collection that defies categorization, but is alive on every page." — Kirkus Reviews, review of Seasons of Glass & Iron: Stories

She has been married to her husband, Stu West, since 2015. They live in Ottawa and Glasgow. El-Mohtar is bisexual.

Amal El-Mohtar is recorded with the occupation science fiction writer. Recorded with the occupation university teacher. Recorded with the occupation literary critic. Classed in the genre speculative fiction. Recorded as writer, poet, literary critic and university teacher. Recognition and collections. El-Mohtar received Locus Award for Best Short Story, Nebula Award for Best Short Story, Hugo Award for Best Short Story, Rhysling Award, Hugo Award for Best Novella and Nebula Award for Best Novella.