Biography
British writer Elizabeth Amisu is the author of nine books (and counting!) and a vast collection of works that span fiction, screenplay, short story, non-fiction, poetry, essays, literary criticism, playwriting, and reviews. In other words, if there’s a way to put words on a page, she’s probably done it. Her writing explores fantasy, black identity, and the supernatural, blending rich storytelling with cultural discourse.
Her sixty-minute stage play, Lightnings, takes on the challenge of understanding adolescence, spirituality, and the supernatural in contemporary theatre. (Because, let’s be honest, adolescence is already supernatural—what else explains the ability to function on three hours of sleep?) This play, alongside her dissertation How the themes of the spiritual and supernatural can explore the liminal space in today’s contemporary theatre, earned her the 2008 prize for Highest Overall Mark in the Faculty of Creativity and Culture. Translation? She wasn’t just good—she was the best.
Elizabeth’s Sacerdos Mysteries series, launched in 2012, invites readers into Terra Magna, a world of ancient-futuristic cities, vibrant cultures, and oceanic realms—all interconnected by mysterious portals. But there’s a catch: society is split between the ungifted majority and the elite giftblood minority, who have ruled for centuries. (Because what’s a fantasy world without a little dystopian class struggle?)
Since its inception, the series has expanded to include Arcane Rising, Waterblood, and DISequilibrium, Gifted Blood with the sixth book, Renescia, is set for publication in 2025. (Yes, readers are waiting. And yes, they will likely form a rebellion if delays continue.)
Critics have taken notice. The Huffington Post called Sacerdos “a modern masterpiece”, describing it as “a gripping young adult novel, riddled with coming-of-age themes, following a dystopian world that begins to unravel… caught somewhere between Dickens and Graham Greene is the eloquent yet sharp language style of Amisu, and it’s a flair that bleeds into her character development.” In short? If Charles Dickens wrote fantasy and had a thing for portals, he might have come close.
As part of her passion for fostering young talent, Elizabeth worked with students aged 16-19 through the National Theatre’s New Views program (2011/2012), exploring playwriting, professional mentorship, and teacher CPD(because even teachers need to level up). During this time, she wrote By the Book (Artonomy), a play set in a world where art and finance are mythically intertwined. Because, let’s face it, wouldn’t life be easier if creativity automatically paid the bills?
Elizabeth isn’t just a novelist. She’s written for a range of online and print publications, including film reviews for The National Student and AccioPotter.com (because once a fantasy fan, always a fantasy fan). On top of that, she has designed over twenty-five online courses covering topics from Introduction to Michael Jackson Studies to Black Science-Fiction & Fantasy and even How to Make Money as an Artist—a course we all need, let’s be real.
She has the accolades to back it up. She won second prize at the Southend Literary Festival (2010) and the MigMag.co.uk Short Story Competition (2012). Her fiction frequently explores supernatural cities and alternative families, two things that, when combined, sound like an excellent Netflix series waiting to happen.
Her first non-fiction book, The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife, was published in September 2016 by ABC-CLIO (Praeger imprint)—a work so thorough that it’s archived in the British Library (yes, the actual British Library). It was republished in 2023 online as part of Bloomsbury sound and in 2024 as a paperback by Bloomsbury Academic.
But this isn’t just another book about Jackson. It dissects his entire artistic and cultural impact, exploring his films, music, public persona, and historical context. Unlike many biographies, it doesn’t shy away from controversy. It tackles race, sexuality, gender, class, and the ideological debates that surrounded him, comparing his artistic journey to that of J.S. Bach and Andy Warhol. Because when it comes to influence, few figures have ever been so universally iconic, artistically complex, and relentlessly scrutinised.
Elizabeth is also the editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies. She has edited two major academic works, including An Academic Companion to Michael Jackson Studies, which compiles twelve critical essays spanning thirty years of academic discourse around the artist. (Basically, if Michael Jackson studies were an Olympic sport, she’d be on the podium.)
The collection includes work from a range of scholars, ensuring that readers—whether academics or fans—gain a well-rounded, deeply researched, and thought-provoking perspective on Jackson’s legacy.
From award-winning stage plays to critically acclaimed novels, literary criticism, and academic research, Elizabeth Amisu isn’t just a writer. She’s a multi-genre storyteller, an educator, a literary curator, and a world-builder—someone whose work doesn’t just entertain, but interrogates, inspires, and illuminates.
And if you haven’t read her yet—what are you waiting for?
Personal
Elizabeth is the first of three children, in East London, to a Nigerian mother and a Nigerian father. She was educated at Newlands School, East Sussex; Buckinghamshire New University; and King’s College London.
She lives in London.