Courtney Floyd is a neurodivergent fantasy author who grew up in New Mexico, where she learned to write between tarantula turf wars and apocalyptic dust storms. Her debut fantasy novel, Higher Magic, came out with MIRA books in October 2025.

Courtney’s short fiction and poetry can be found in publications including Small Wonders, Haven Spec, and Fireside Magazine, and her cozy horror audio drama, The Way We Haunt Now, is available on all major podcast platforms. She is also the co-host of Unfortunately…, a podcast about fiction, failure and moving forward as a writer she launched with her Viable Paradise classmate, Mona West,

A first-generation PhD, Courtney works by day as a learning designer at a private college in New England, supporting faculty as they implement inclusive and accessible pedagogy in their courses. She currently lives at the bottom of a haunted mountain in the woods of Vermont with her partner and pets. When she isn’t writing or podcasting, she’s likely hiking with her dogs or taking photos of interesting mushrooms.