Amal El-Mohtar
Amal El-Mohtar is a celebrated Canadian poet and speculative fiction writer whose work has garnered international acclaim and major literary awards. She is best known for her 2019 novella, This Is How You Lose the Time War, co-written with Max Gladstone, which won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards. Her subsequent solo novella, The River Has Roots (2025), also won the Nebula and Locus awards, cementing her reputation as a leading voice in genre fiction. El-Mohtar's contributions to Canadian literature include her editorial role at the poetry magazine Goblin Fruit, her work as a book reviewer for the New York Times Book Review, and her teaching of creative writing at Ottawa universities.
Early Life and Education
Amal El-Mohtar was born on December 13, 1984, in Ottawa, Ontario, into a family of Lebanese descent. She has noted that her parents told her she comes from a long lineage of poets, which likely influenced her early interest in language and storytelling. El-Mohtar spent most of her childhood in Ottawa, with a formative two-year period living in Lebanon beginning when she was six years old. It was during this time abroad that she first developed a love for fantasy and science fiction, crediting a Lebanese cousin with introducing her to Doctor Who, and she 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, balancing her academic and creative careers.
Literary Career and Major Works
El-Mohtar's literary career encompasses poetry, short fiction, essays, and criticism, establishing her as a versatile and influential figure in speculative fiction. Since 2006, she has served as the editor of Goblin Fruit, a quarterly online magazine dedicated to fantastical poetry. In February 2018, she began reviewing science fiction and fantasy books for the New York Times Book Review, bringing critical attention to the genre. Her work as a creative writing instructor has included positions at both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, and in 2018 she was a host for Season 13 of Brandon Sanderson's popular podcast, Writing Excuses. Her breakthrough came with the 2019 novella This Is How You Lose the Time War, co-authored with Max Gladstone, which is an epistolary science fiction story about rival time-traveling agents.
The book was met with widespread critical and commercial success, and in 2019, El-Mohtar announced that it had been optioned for television, with scripts to be written by herself and Gladstone. Her first solo novella, The River Has Roots, was published by Tor Books in 2025 and was praised in a starred Kirkus Reviews as an ode to sisterhood. It was named one of The 35 Best Books of 2025 by Esquire magazine. Her fourth book, the short story collection Seasons of Glass & Iron: Stories, was published by Tor Books on March 24, 2026, and was also selected as one of The Best Books of 2026 by Esquire.
Awards and Recognition
Amal El-Mohtar's writing has been recognized with some of the highest honours in speculative fiction. Her collaborative novella, This Is How You Lose the Time War, achieved a rare grand slam of major genre awards, winning the 2019 Nebula Award, the 2020 Hugo Award, the 2020 Locus Award, and the 2020 Ignyte Award for Best Novella. The book also placed second for the 2020 Theodore Sturgeon Award and was a finalist for the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award, the inaugural Ray Bradbury Prize, and the Kitschies. Her solo work has continued this award-winning trajectory, with The River Has Roots winning the 2025 Nebula Award and the 2026 Locus Award for Best Novella.
Amal El-Mohtar has won multiple major literary awards. Her 2019 novella, This Is How You Lose the Time War, won the Nebula, Locus, Ignyte, and Hugo awards for Best Novella. Her first solo novella, The River Has Roots, won the 2025 Nebula Award and the 2026 Locus Award for Best Novella. Her earlier short story, 'Seasons of Glass and Iron', also won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards in the short story category for works published in 2016 and 2017.
- 2019 Nebula Award for Best Novella for This Is How You Lose the Time War (with Max Gladstone).
- 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novella for This Is How You Lose the Time War.
- 2020 Locus Award for Best Novella for This Is How You Lose the Time War.
- 2020 Ignyte Award for Outstanding Novella for This Is How You Lose the Time War.
- 2025 Nebula Award for Best Novella for The River Has Roots.
- 2026 Locus Award for Best Novella for The River Has Roots.
Her earlier short story, 'Seasons of Glass and Iron', won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards in the short story category for works published in 2016 and 2017. This demonstrates her consistent excellence across different literary forms. Her award-winning work spans collaborative novellas, solo novellas, and short stories. These accolades highlight her significant impact on the speculative fiction genre.
Bibliography
El-Mohtar has published an extensive body of work that includes novellas, poetry collections, and numerous short stories, poems, and essays. Her published books include the collaborative novella This Is How You Lose the Time War and the solo novella The River Has Roots. She also published the poetry collection The Honey Month in 2010 and the short story collection Seasons of Glass & Iron: Stories in 2026. Her full bibliography includes a long list of short stories, poems, essays, and reviews.
| Title | Type | Publisher | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| This Is How You Lose the Time War (with Max Gladstone) | Novella | Saga Press | 2019 |
| The River Has Roots | Novella | Tor Books | 2025 |
| The Honey Month | Short Story/Poetry Collection | Papaveria Press | 2010 |
| Seasons of Glass & Iron: Stories | Short Story Collection | Tor Publishing Group | 2026 |
Her writing is frequently noted for its lyrical quality and exploration of themes such as ancestry, culture, and the natural world. Kirkus Reviews described Seasons of Glass & Iron: Stories as a collection that defies categorization but is alive on every page. The review highlighted its thoughtful engagement with sorrow, isolation, and otherness. Another Kirkus review for The River Has Roots praised it as an ode to sisters and an anthem for bloody retribution.
Personal Life
Amal El-Mohtar has been married to Stu West since 2015. The couple maintains homes in both Ottawa, Ontario, and Glasgow, Scotland, reflecting her connections to Canada and the broader literary world. She has publicly identified as bisexual, and her personal and familial background, including her Lebanese heritage and the stories of a poetic lineage from her parents, continues to inform and enrich her creative work. This blend of personal history and global perspective is a recurring element in her fiction and poetry, adding depth and authenticity to her narratives.
Cultural Impact and Critical Reception
El-Mohtar's work has significantly influenced contemporary speculative fiction, particularly in demonstrating the artistic potential of the novella form and blending poetic language with genre narratives. Her role as a critic for a major publication like the New York Times Book Review has helped bring serious critical attention to science fiction and fantasy for a wider audience. The commercial optioning of This Is How You Lose the Time War for television adaptation indicates the broader cultural reach of her stories beyond literary circles and into popular visual media. Critics consistently praise her prose for its beauty and emotional depth, with the starred review for The River Has Roots calling it 'a book you’ll want to revisit like a favorite song.'
She has edited the fantastic poetry quarterly magazine Goblin Fruit since 2006. She also reviews science fiction and fantasy books for the New York Times Book Review. Academically, she teaches creative writing at the University of Ottawa and is pursuing a PhD at Carleton University. She has worked as a creative writing instructor at Carleton University and served as a host on the podcast Writing Excuses. Through her writing, teaching, and editing, El-Mohtar is a respected figure in genre literature.
Questions about Amal El-Mohtar
What awards has Amal El-Mohtar won?
El-Mohtar has won multiple major speculative fiction awards. For This Is How You Lose the Time War, she won the 2019 Nebula, 2020 Hugo, 2020 Locus, and 2020 Ignyte awards for Best Novella. For her solo work, The River Has Roots won the 2025 Nebula Award and the 2026 Locus Award for Best Novella. An earlier short story, 'Seasons of Glass and Iron', also won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards in its category.
What is Amal El-Mohtar best known for?
Amal El-Mohtar is best known for the 2019 novella This Is How You Lose the Time War, co written with Max Gladstone. This novella earned major awards including the 2019 Nebula, 2020 Locus, 2020 Ignyte, and 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novella. She is also widely recognized as the editor of the fantastic poetry quarterly magazine Goblin Fruit, a role she began in 2006. Her first solo novella, The River Has Roots, published in 2025, won the 2025 Nebula and 2026 Locus Awards, solidifying her reputation. Her career also includes reviewing science fiction and fantasy for the New York Times Book Review since 2018.
Where is Amal El-Mohtar from?
Amal El Mohtar is from Ottawa, Ontario, where she was born on 13 December 1984. She is of Lebanese descent and grew up primarily in Ottawa, with a significant two year period spent in Lebanon starting at age six. It was during this time in Lebanon that she first developed her love for fantasy and science fiction. As of 2026, she lives in both Ottawa and Glasgow. She is also pursuing a PhD in English at Carleton University in Ottawa while teaching creative writing at the University of Ottawa.
Is This Is How You Lose the Time War being adapted?
Yes, This Is How You Lose the Time War has been optioned for television. Amal El Mohtar announced this development in 2019. The plan was for the television scripts to be written by El Mohtar herself and her co author Max Gladstone. This news followed the novella's significant critical success, including winning the Nebula, Hugo, Locus, and Ignyte awards. The adaptation represents a major step in bringing her celebrated collaborative work to a broader audience.
What does Amal El-Mohtar do besides writing books?
Beyond writing books, Amal El Mohtar has several prominent roles in the literary world. She is the editor of the fantastic poetry quarterly magazine Goblin Fruit, a position she has held since 2006. She also reviews science fiction and fantasy books for the New York Times Book Review, a role she began in February 2018. Academically, as of 2026 she is pursuing a PhD in English at Carleton University and teaches creative writing at the University of Ottawa. She has also served as a host on Brandon Sanderson's creative writing podcast Writing Excuses for its 13th season.
When was Amal El-Mohtar's first solo novella published?
Amal El Mohtar's first solo novella, The River Has Roots, was published in 2025 by Tor Books. This work was met with immediate acclaim, winning the 2025 Nebula Award for Best Novella and the 2026 Locus Award for Best Novella. It received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, which praised it as an ode to sisters and a book to revisit like a favourite song. Esquire named it one of The 35 Best Books of 2025. This publication marked a significant milestone following her earlier collaborative success.
Sources and further reading
- Amal El-Mohtar (Wikipedia)
- Amal El-Mohtar, Asian Heritage in Canada (library.torontomu.ca)
- Amal El-Mohtar, Storyological (storyological.com)
- About, Amal El-Mohtar (amalelmohtar.com)
Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-07.
