Heather Parry is a Glasgow-based writer and editor originally from South Yorkshire. She is known for her debut novel, Orpheus Builds a Girl, which was shortlisted for the Saltire Society Fiction Book of the Year Award and longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. Parry has also authored a short story collection, This Is My Body, Given For You, and her first nonfiction book, Electric Dreams: On Sex Robots and the Failed Promises of Capitalism (2024).
Heather Parry was born and raised in South Yorkshire. Parry pursued her passion for writing and editing, culminating in a career marked by notable literary contributions and a dedication to exploring complex social themes.
A true story involving Elena Milagro de Hoyos and Carl Tanzler inspired Parry's debut novel, Orpheus Builds a Girl. The book explores themes of love, obsession, and societal complicity in patriarchal abuse. Parry said, "I was really shocked; is the bar so low for male treatment of women that we see this kind of necrophiliac psychopath as some kind of romantic hero?" She intended to challenge readers by presenting a narrative that reveals society's role in normalizing such behavior.
Her latest work, Electric Dreams: On Sex Robots and the Failed Promises of Capitalism delves into the controversial topic of sex robots. The book examines the cultural and economic forces that drive the obsession with sex robots and questions the feasibility and implications of this technological fantasy. Parry critiques the notion that sex robots could solve human problems or pose real threats to safety.
In addition to her writing, Parry is actively involved in academia. She lectures on Sexual Politics and Gender Theory and participates in International Women's Conferences. Michele Foucault, Judith Butler, and Leonard Cohen are among the figures who influenced her academic interests.
Parry's writing is characterized by an unflinching examination of uncomfortable truths and a challenge to conventional narratives. Inspired by authors such as Vladimir Nabokov and Hanya Yanagihara, she strives to engage readers in a dialogue about social issues through her complex characters and compelling stories.
Reflecting on her work, Parry remarked, "I love those books that make the reader complicit in a social ill by putting them in the position of that character. It really puts a lot of trust in your readers; it takes a lot of skill to pull it off." This approach is evident in her nuanced portrayal of characters and her commitment to addressing the darker aspects of human nature.
Heather Parry lives in Glasgow with her partner and their cats, Ernesto and Fidel.
Photo credit: © Robin Christian
