Five female authors you NEED to know

Hello autumn! It's the time of year when you want to sit indoors with a roaring fire and a good book! Thankfully a host of new female authors are releasing some great reads this season and we couldn't wait to tell you about them. Prepare to add these to your bookshelf asap.

1. To December- A Devotion To She by Greta Bellamacina

Meet model turned author Greta, the face of All Saints AW12 Campaign who is releasing her second book of poetry To December. We're big fans of this author, and we're not the only ones- Greta was shortlised as the Young Poet Laureate of London. In this book of poems the subjects of love, nature and what it means to be female are explored beautifully. This book of poems is out now in limited edition paperback through PAGES

2. We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

Sometimes a debut novel comes along and blows you away, this book by NoViolet Bulawayo is one such book. The author from Zimbabwe writes about her protagonist ‘Darling’, a 10-year-old girl with a crew of displaced friends growing up in a scary political time. They have been removed from their homes for opposing Robert Mugabe. The book takes you on a journey from the Zimbabwe shantytown to America where Darling relocates. It’s a riveting read and has been long listed for the 2013 Man Booker Prize. £14.99 Chatto & Windus (out now)

3. Butterflies in November : Audur Ava Ólafsdóttir

This book starts with a lady being dumped twice in one day. While that doesn't sound like the recipe for a laugh out loud book, I assure you that you will be laughing as you flick through the pages of this book. It's so brilliantly written, and the main protagonist is such a fascinating character. The author, Audur, takes mudane subjects in life, like marriage and divorce (that could be rather dull) and makes them quirky, fun, adorable and bizarre. You’ll savour each page of this book- as you follow the main character on a trip that changes her life. £12.00 Pushkin Press (out November 7th)

4. The Shadow of the Crescent Moon by Fatima Bhutto

Meet poet turned author Fatima Bhutto, niece of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Here she presents her debut novel, and it’s one amazing read. It’s set in a small town in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas near the Afghan border and tells the fiction tale of a three brothers and how their lives change in the space of one day. The story is fascinating, but the real magic is the way Fatima makes you feel for all the characters, you feel as though you know them intimately from their thoughts and feelings to their actions. You get to understand each person, the choices they make and how that affects everyone around them. A young novelist to watch!£12.99, Penguin (Out 28 November 2013 )

 5. On Snakes & Other Stories by Yrsa Daley-Ward

Model and author Yrsa who grew up in Chorley, North England. This is a fab collection of stories, which explores some deep themes, from love to escapism and the disastrous consequences of meeting up with long lost relatives. Yrsa has said that she wrote in just a few months with the ideas coming thick and fast. It makes for a wonderful read, with fascinating characters that demand your attention. 3:AM Press (out now- you can order here)

Are you reading any great female authors at the moment? Tweet @companymagazine with your own recommendations using #readitandtweet - so we can add the recommendations to our bookshelf.

Written by: Carlene Thomas-Bailey