Jordan Ifueko

Jordan Ifueko
Jordan Ifueko in 2020
Jordan Ifueko in 2020
Born (1993-08-16) August 16, 1993 (age 31)
Southern California, U.S.
OccupationWriter
NationalityNigeria
United States
Alma materGeorge Fox University
Period2019-Present
GenreFantasy
Notable worksRaybearer, Redemptor
Website
www.jordanifueko.com

Jordan Ifueko (born August 16, 1993) is a Nigerian American writer of fantasy and young adult fiction.[1] She is best known for her novel Raybearer, which became a New York Times bestseller, and its sequel, Redemptor.[2] Her third novel set in the world of Raybearer, The Maid and the Crocodile, was released August 2024.[3] She also writes short stories, which have been published in Strange Horizons.[4]

Early life

Jordan Ifueko was born in Southern California to two Nigerian parents who migrated to the United States;[5] her mother is from the Yoruba tribe while her father is from the Bini tribe. Ifueko stated she grew up listening to West African folktales narrated by her mother.[5] She was home schooled by her parents and attended George Fox University in Oregon. She is married and lives in Atlanta with her family.[6]

Career

As a teenager in 2008, Ifueko wrote Jane Austen inspired Neopets fanfiction that was serialized in the Neopets in-game newspaper, The Neopian Times.[7] Ifueko's debut novel Raybearer, inspired partly by her West African heritage and other world cultures, was published on August 18, 2020, by Abrams Books,[8] and became a New York Times bestseller.[9] It was nominated for the Andre Norton Award[10] and the Goodreads Choice Award for best Debut Novel and best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction.[11][12] The novel was honoured as one of the American Library Association's (ALA) Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults and ALA Top Ten Best Fiction. It was followed by a sequel, Redemptor, published in 2021 which was nominated for Ignyte Awards, Lodestar Award and Andre Norton Award.[13][14][15][16]

In September 2021, it was announced that Netflix was in the development phase of adapting Raybearer into a television series, under a new overall deal with Gina Atwater, with Sugar23 and Macro Television Studios producing.[17]

In 2024, Ifueko announced a new book, The Maid and the Crocodile, a standalone fantasy set in the same world as Raybearer.[18]

Other works

In July 2022, Marvel Comics announced that Ifueko would be writing a new Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur comic, drawn by Alba Glez. It was published in December of the same year.[19][20]

Bibliography

Novels

References

  1. ^ Ohanesian, Liz (2020-08-14). "This San Fernando Valley author was just 13 when she started plotting her YA fantasy debut". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  2. ^ Ifueko, Jordan (18 August 2020). Raybearer. Abrams. ISBN 978-1-68335-719-3. OCLC 1152281861.
  3. ^ "'Raybearer' Author Jordan Ifueko Reveals Cover of New Fantasy Novel: 'I Am Overjoyed' (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  4. ^ "Short Stories". Jordan Ifueko. Archived from the original on 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  5. ^ a b Sutton, Roger. "Jordan Ifueko Talks with Roger". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  6. ^ "Meet Jordan". jordanifueko.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ Ballou, Elizabeth (July 23, 2019). "How a Young Adult Author Got Her Start Writing 'Pride and Prejudice' Fanfic About Neopets". Vice. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "Get a first look at 'Raybearer,' a dazzling West African-inspired YA fantasy". EW.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  9. ^ "Jordan Ifueko on her stunning debut West African inspired YA fantasy, Raybearer". United By Pop. 2020-08-30. Archived from the original on 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  10. ^ "Nebula Awards® Nominees and Winners: Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction Nebula Awards®". The Nebula Awards®. Archived from the original on 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  11. ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Debut Novel!". Goodreads. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  12. ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction!". Goodreads. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  13. ^ Ifueko, Jordan (17 August 2021). Redemptor. Amulet Books. ISBN 978-1-4197-3984-2. OCLC 1262873440.
  14. ^ Tor.com (2022-04-19). "Announcing the Shortlist for the 2022 Ignyte Awards". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  15. ^ Brooke, David (2022-04-07). "2022 Hugo Awards finalists, including in comics, announced • AIPT". Archived from the original on 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  16. ^ "sfadb: Nebula Awards 2022". www.sfadb.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  17. ^ Petski, Denise (2021-09-28). "Gina Atwater Inks Overall Deal With Netflix; Sets 'Raybearer' Adaptation As First Project". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  18. ^ "'Raybearer' Author Jordan Ifueko Reveals Cover of New Fantasy Novel: 'I Am Overjoyed' (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  19. ^ Johnston, Rich (2022-07-23). "Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur Series Launches - Marvel's Next Big Thing". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Archived from the original on 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  20. ^ "Moon Girl's New Comic Series, Jason Aaron's Next Avengers Epic, and More Announced at Marvel's Next Big Thing Panel". Marvel Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2022-09-18.