Everina Maxwell

Maxwell is from Brighton, Sussex. She spent her childhood reading science-fiction and fantasy books from a local library.^[1] In 2004 around age 16,^[2] Maxwell attempted to write her first book when she took part in NaNoWriMo.^[1] She was a member of a local theatre company.^[3]

Under the username Avoliot, Maxwell began writing Livejournal segments of what would become her first novel in 2016 and uploaded them collectively into an original science fiction romance story titled The Course of Honour to the website Archive of Our Own (AO3) in 2017. She was then scouted by a literary agent, who helped her re-write it.^[4] Via a three-way auction and a book deal, Orbit Books in the UK and Tor Publishing Group in the U.S. acquired the rights to publish the story as Maxwell's debut novel Winter's Orbit in 2021.^[5][6] Described as queer romantic space opera, the novel follows Prince Kiem and Jainan. ^[7] Where The Course of Honour focused on the romance, Winter's Orbit expanded on the science fiction elements.^[4] Winter's Orbit won an Alex Award^[8] and was shortlisted for a Bisexual Book Award,^[9] the Golden Tentacle at the Kitschies,^[10] and the Astounding Award for Best New Writer.^[11]

Maxwell's second science fiction romance novel Ocean's Echo followed in November 2022.^[2] The novel takes place in the same universe as Winter's Orbit and is not a direct sequel, following new characters Tennal and Surit.^[12] Ocean's Echo was shortlisted for a Romantic Novel Award in the Fantasy category^[13] as well as another Astounding Award.^[11]

Maxwell is queer.^[14] She lives in Yorkshire.^[15]

• Winter's Orbit (2021)
• Ocean's Echo (2022)