Delilah S. Dawson


Delilah S. Dawson is an American author, primarily of fantasy and science fiction. She writes fantasy as Lila Bowen, and has written erotica as Ava Lovelace.
Her works include Star Wars tie-in fiction, as well as Rick and Morty Presents: Pickle Rick, Kill the Farm Boy and No Country for Old Gnomes. She has also written comic books such as Star Pig and Sparrowhawk.
WWW whimsydark.com𝕏 DelilahSDawson

Career

Dawson's work includes the Blud series of steampunk paranormal romance novels, the Shadow series of Weird West novels, as well as several young adult novels. She has also written Star Wars tie-in short stories, including the 2015 Bazine Netal adventure "Star Wars: The Perfect Weapon", and the 2016 Greer Sonnel story "Scorched", published in Star Wars Insider No. 165. In September 2017, Dawson released Star Wars: Phasma, a novel chronicling the backstory of Captain Phasma of the First Order.
From 2025, Dawson took over Terry Brooks's Shannara series., with her first novel set to be published on August 25th, 2026. She wrote the first Ravenloft novel, Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd, to be published in 17 years.

Personal life

Dawson lives in Roswell, Georgia.

Reception

In 2016, Alex Brown of Tor.com wrote that Dawson is "producing some of the best underappreciated books of the last few years", noting the "difficult subject matter intense imagery" in her young adult works, and her diverse protagonists. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly appreciated that in Dawson's Wake of Vultures, "themes of self-worth, gender, and the complexity of identity are treated with frank realism and sensitivity", as well as her "gritty and well-realized paranormal Wild West". Kirkus Reviews wrote in a starred review of Wake of Vultures that "Bowen has created a fascinating, textured Wild West world. The monsters are gruesome, the battles are bloody, and the pace of this story never flags." Her novel Camp Scare was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel.

Adult novel

The Violence Bloom
  • ''Guillotine''

Shannara

  • The First Druids of Shannara book 2 - ''Brona''

''Blud'' series

Wicked as They Come Wicked As She Wants – Romantic Times Steampunk Book of the Year for 2013, RT Book of the Year nominee 2013Wicked After Midnight – Romantic Times Steampunk Book of the Year Nominee for 2014
  • ''Wicked Ever After''

Novellas

The Mysterious Madam Morpho The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance The Damsel and the Daggerman – Starred review from ''Library Journal''

Short stories

  • "The Three Lives of Lydia" from Carniepunk anthology
  • "Uncharming" from Unbound anthology
  • "Not my Circus, Not my Monkeys" from Three Slices anthology

''Dungeons & Dragons''

  • ''Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd''

''Star Wars''

Star Wars: "The Perfect Weapon" published in the trade paperback edition of the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, also available as an ebookStar Wars: "Scorched" published in Star Wars Insider No. 165Star Wars: Phasma part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi promotional campaignStar Wars: "The Secrets of Long Snoot" published in Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire
  • Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
  • Star Wars: Return to a Shattered Planet published in the paperback edition of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Black SpireStar Wars: "She Will Keep Them Warm" published in From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
  • ''Star Wars: Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade''

Young adult

Servants of the Storm Hit Strike
  • "The Greenest Grass" from Violent Ends anthology

Middle Grade

  • ''Camp Scare''

Tie-in short stories

Shadowman: "Follow Me Boy"
  • "When Doves Cry" from Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors anthology

Essays

''Shadow'' series (as Lila Bowen)

Wake of Vultures: The Shadow: Book One Conspiracy of Ravens: The Shadow: Book Two Malice of Crows: Book Three Treason of Hawks: Book Four

Tales of Pell (with Kevin Hearne)

Kill the Farm Boy No Country for Old Gnomes
  • ''The Princess Beard''

Comics

Ladycastle: #1–4 Adventure Time: #66–69 Rick and Morty Presents: Pickle Rick Firefly: The Sting
  • ''Sparrowhawk''

Erotica (as Ava Lovelace)

  • ''The Lumberfox''