G.J. Stoutimore is an American dark fantasy and horror author best known for his novel Murder Baby, which was published in late 2022.^[1]

Biography

Stoutimore was born in New Hampshire into a Christian home. He later attended Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God, studying to be a Pentecostal Minister. He left the faith, and has subsequently spoken openly about his negative experiences within the church, which include sexual abuse.^[2] His experiences are thought to deeply inform the subtext of his dark fantasy fiction work.

A Leeds United fan, podcaster and a writer of numerous genres, Stoutimore is a regular contributor to the "One Leeds Fan Channel" on YouTube, which reaches over thirty-thousand daily subscribers.^[3] His non-fiction writing has been featured in Relevant Magazine, Medium, and other media outlets.^[4]

Career

Stoutimore's first book, Murder Baby, debuted in December 2023 to generally positive reviews.^[5] Rife with heavy themes of trauma and abuse, his writing of female characters was praised in conjunction with his slow-burning narrative.^[6] Referred to as a "tour de force of a debut," the book has been compared to samurai films, and Stoutimore's avoidance of common tropes in the fantasy genre around the writing of female characters was noted as one of his strengths.^[7] His writing of conflict and action has been described as excessively gory, and reviews have encouraged readers to pay close attention to the novel's copious trigger warnings.^[8] Murder Baby was named to BookTrib's 24 Favorites from 2023 That You've Probably Never Heard Of.^[9]

Some of Stoutimore's views and writings outside of fiction have provoked controversy, notably his pointed criticisms of homophobia within Evangelical Christian circles. He is an outspoken atheist, and has seemingly made his career in big tech, working for companies such as Meta, GM Cruise, and Aurora Innovation.^{[10] [11]}

Genre and influences

With work classified as grimdark fantasy with elements that overlap with high fantasy and supernatural horror, Stoutimore's prose has drawn comparisons to authors like Joe Abercrombie and Sarah J. Maas, as well as samurai movies, westerns, and cyberpunk dystopian tales.^[12] Kirkus Reviews noted Stoutimore's generally unfavorable characterization of technology throughout Murder Baby. "Stoutimore’s novel, the first in a new series, unfolds in an indelible cyberpunk world in which many people’s bodies are augmented in some capacity by “mech.” The story rarely views such technological advancements favorably, as air-car traffic clutters the skies and flashing holographic billboards are a nuisance."^[13]

Personal life

Stoutimore currently lives in New Hampshire.^[14] He maintains a close connection to the United Kingdom, having studied at both the University of Leeds and the University of Bristol, and is active in both alumni networks.^[15]

Published works

References