Where the Stories Begin

With New York Times Bestselling Author Hannah Whitten

_{Written by Andrew Buckner
Photos by Tessa Davis}

When people call me a writer, I can’t help but think, “You don’t know Hannah Whitten.”

Sure, both of us put words onto a page, but we aren’t the same.

Hannah is studied, proven, and inventive.

She is a master of the written word.

Beyond being a New York Times Bestseller and the author of six published novels, Hannah is, in my opinion, and that of many others, a genius.

Her talent for story and world building, whimsy, the macabre, and the fantastic seem to come from a bottomless creative well; one that she discovered in childhood.

“I was a huge reader from a very early age, and that very naturally shifted into telling myself stories before I even really knew that’s what I was doing. I would read a book series that I really liked, and when there were no books left, I would decide I was going to write them myself. Initially, it was more for my own enjoyment than anything else; it was a form of play for me,” Whitten said.

“Whenever I was in 4th grade, I had a wonderful teacher named Mrs. Stanton at Capshaw Elementary. She noticed that writing was something I enjoyed doing and that I had at least a little bit of talent for it, and really encouraged me to pursue it. For Halloween that year, she had us write a short story based on a given prompt. I wrote mine about ghosts, and I enjoyed doing it so much that from then on, regardless of what the prompt was, I would find a way to make it something spooky so the seeds for writing horror and dark fantasy were there very early.”

Hannah’s initial novel with Orbit Books, a dark reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood titled For the Wolf, was named a New York Times Bestseller in 2021, catapulting her mastery of the craft into the international literary spotlight.

Whitten followed For the Wolf with For the Throne, which landed on international bestseller lists, further cementing her status and staying power.

Now, fresh off The Nightshade Crown, a series which itself flew off shelves and received critical acclaim, Hannah is dipping her toes into horror. Released August 11th, 2026, under Run For It Books, Reliquary, which was just named a USA Today Bestseller, traces the journey of a woman navigating loss in an atmospheric, haunted estate by the sea.

“Readers of my previous releases won’t be surprised by Reliquary,” Whitten stated.

“I’ve always had spooky stuff and moments of horror in my fantasy novels. Now, I’m getting a chance to dive into the genre in earnest, and I’m so excited to hear what readers think.”

When I sat down with Hannah, she was fresh off a trip to Ireland and in preparation for a string of book tour dates across the United States.

“We just got back from Ireland two weeks ago, where I filmed a travel TV show which will be on PBS next year. Getting to visit Ireland, which is somewhere that I’ve been obsessed with and always wanted to visit, and essentially get a private tour as a result of my work was a dream come true.”

She added, “It was one of those moments that I hope I don’t ever get used to or take for granted.”

Under contract with Hachette (parent company of Orbit and Run For It) for four more releases, Whitten’s journey as a writer, though prolific already, is just beginning.

I’ve known Hannah for a decade, and though my pride for her is boundless, the success she’s found comes as no surprise.

Hannah is exceptional.

Beyond talent, she possesses the ability to listen, is kind, and wants to leave the world better than she found it.

Cookeville is lucky to have her.

It’s an honor to celebrate the mind, wit, and worlds of the remarkable Hannah Whitten in this edition of Cookeville Lifestyle Magazine.

To purchase a copy of the magazine that features Hannah on the cover or download a digital copy, click HERE.

To view Hannah’s upcoming book signings and tour stops, visit her website.