Sharilyn Saxton

Sharilyn Saxton writes immersive young adult science fiction inspired by a lifelong habit of looking up at the night sky and wondering what stories might be waiting there. Her work explores courage, connection, and the cost of challenging powerful systems, blending cinematic action with intimate, character-driven storytelling. In worlds shaped by politics, family, and survival, she follows teens who are bold, flawed, and achingly human.

With a background in theatre and professional training in fiction and game writing, Sharilyn approaches storytelling as both craft and worldbuilding. She is the recipient of the James Kirkwood Literary Prize for her short story “All the Gold Stars” about a teen living in a world that rejects him. Xandra of Mars is her debut novel and the first installment in the Xandra of Mars Trilogy.