The publishing industry may be in turmoil right now, but that hasn’t stopped the latest crop of intrepid emerging fiction writers from making their mark. Here are five bright new voices, each with a debut novel published in 2011, to look out for in the coming years:

 

Justin Torres, author of We the Animals

This debut novel, which tells a gripping coming-of-age story centered around three brothers, announces the arrival of a skilled and innovative new writer. Torres has already garnered a number of literary honors, including a Stegner Fellowship in Fiction at Stanford, and the rave reviews of We the Animals mark him as a novelist to watch.

 

Kevin Wilson, author of The Family Fang

Wilson’s The Family Fang, which chronicles the adventures of a theatrical family, has already been optioned by Nicole Kidman for a feature film. This fast-paced, funny novel tells the story of eccentric performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang and their two children. Wilson combines black comedy with human pathos in an unforgettable way. 

 

Tea Obreht, author of The Tiger’s Wife

Not only did Obreht’s The Tiger’s Wife earn her a spot on The New Yorker’s best American fiction writers under forty list, the book was also a National Book Award Finalist in 2011. The Tiger’s Wife, tells the story of Natalia, a young doctor working in a Balkan orphanage by the sea. Obreht weaves a narrative dense with unforgettable images, characters, and connections across time. 

 

Chad Harbach, author of The Art of Fielding

Harbach’s The Art of Fielding has generated a significant amount of buzz and critical praise. The novel centers on college baseball star Henry Skrimshander as he strives toward his dream of achieving Big League stardom. Harbache’s refined prose and vivid characters distinguish him as an up-and-coming writer to put your must-read list. 

 

Eleanor Henderson, author of Ten Thousand Saints

Henderson’s Ten Thousand Saints landed on a lot of high-ranking lists this past year, including the New York Times Book Review’s Top 10 Books of 2011 list and O Magazine’s Top 5 Fiction list. The novel, set in the 1980’s, explores the life of a young man who moves from Vermont to New York after his best friend dies of a drug over-dose. After reading Ten Thousand Saints, you’ll eagerly anticipate more from this exciting new writer.