Winnie M Li
I’m an American author, activist, and educator. I’ve lived and worked in the creative industries across three continents, and have always been interested in storytelling in its different forms. While I focus on writing my novels, I’m also involved in many other projects and communities.
Biography
Dr. Winnie M Li is an author, activist, and educator. Taiwanese-American and originally from New Jersey, she has lived and worked in the creative industries in Ireland, Qatar, Singapore, and the UK.
Before becoming a novelist, she worked for an Oscar-nominated independent film production company in London, focusing on narrative feature and short films. She later programmed for film festivals and even dabbled in designing zoos and tourist attractions.
Winnie’s debut novel, Dark Chapter (2017), won The Guardian’s Not The Booker Prize, was nominated for an Edgar Award, and has been translated into ten languages. She has recently adapted it for the screen. Her second novel, Complicit (2022), draws from her earlier career in the film industry and was described by The New York Times as “harrowing, timely, and thoroughly book-club worthy.” Her third novel, What We Left Unsaid, will be published in August 2025.
At the age of 29, Winnie’s life and career trajectory were profoundly disrupted when she became the victim of a violent stranger rape in Belfast. Driven by this experience, she later founded Clear Lines, the UK’s first festival addressing sexual assault and consent through the arts. She went on to complete her PhD at the London School of Economics on the emotional labour of ‘public’ rape survivors who appear in the media.
Winnie holds an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland in recognition of her writing and activism. She has given over 200 public talks and appeared on the BBC, Sky News, Channel 4, The Guardian, The Times, The Irish Times, TEDx London, and other platforms. She is currently an Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham.
Awards & Grants
Honorary Degree
Honorary Doctorate of Law, National University of Ireland (2018) – In recognition of my writing and advocacy for women’s rights
Creative Writing Awards
Shortlisted – The Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award (2023) for Complicit, awarded for outstanding second novel
Winner – The Guardian’s Not The Booker Prize (2017) for Dark Chapter, awarded annually via public vote and judging panel
Nominated – The Edgar Awards (2018), Best First Novel category, for Dark Chapter – premier US awards for mystery & crime writing, run by the Mystery Writers of America
Shortlisted – The Author’s Club Best First Novel Award (2018) for Dark Chapter
2nd Place – SI Leeds Literary Prize (2016) for the unpublished manuscript of Dark Chapter – awarded biennially to an unpublished fiction manuscript by a Black or Asian woman
Highly Commended – CWA Debut Dagger (2015), based on the opening and synopsis of Dark Chapter
Shortlisted – James White Award (2015) for short story “White Fur” – awarded to an unpublished science fiction short story by the British Science Fiction Association and Interzone magazine
Shortlisted – Pat Kavanagh Prize (2015) for extracts from what would become Dark Chapter, awarded annually to a graduate of the Goldsmiths MA in Creative and Life Writing
Arts Grants
Arts Council England – Developing Your Creative Practice Grant
Royal Society of Literature – Literature Matters Grant
Arts Council England – Project Grant
Arts Council of Northern Ireland – Individual Artist Award
Jerwood Arts Bursary
Activism Awards
Winner – Write to End Violence Against Women Awards (2022) in Journalism, for The Emotional Labour of Dealing with the Media
Nominated – Irish Tatler’s Women of the Year Awards (2017), Special Recognition
Shortlisted – Asian Women of Achievement Awards (2016), Social & Humanitarian category, for work as Co-Founder of the Clear Lines Festival and other advocacy on sexual assault
Shortlisted – Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize (2015), Individual Award – for writing challenging male violence against women
Shortlisted – Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize (2015), Group Award – for Clear Lines Festival, recognised for work addressing male violence against women