Chantel Pearson is a Malaysian-Canadian author living on Treaty 7 territory. She writes horror and fantasy that weave Southeast Asian folklore, oral traditions, and a love for the eerie and unexplainable.She is represented by Hannah Todd at Janklow & Nesbit UK, and her debut novel, MAD SAILOR—a historical gothic horror set in colonial Malaya—has some exciting news on the horizon. Drawing on her background in anthropology, Chantel explores how culture, faith, and fear shape the stories we tell and the monsters we create. Chantel loves crafting hooks that pull readers in from the very first line and thrives on building vast, fantastical worlds by pushing at the boundaries of genre to uncover something that feels both intimate and epic.

As a mentor, she’s especially keen to work with writers of YA and Adult fantasy—from the cozy and whimsical to the sprawling and dark—as well as Adult horror, thrillers, and mysteries. She’s drawn to twisty tales, high emotional stakes, and worlds that feel ready to tip off their axis. Give her a story that makes her gasp, say “oh my god,” and be desperate for just one more chapter. She loves being surprised, unsettled, and completely swept away—especially if there’s a delicious love interest to make things even messier.  

Chantel values clarity, compassion, and collaboration in her mentorships. She’s passionate about helping writers sharpen their emotional core, build confidence in their voice, and craft stories that demand to be read. When she’s not writing, she is probably hiking with her family, baking bread with her loyal sourdough starter Frodough, or trying (and usually failing) to convince her Great Dane that he’s not a lapdog.