Hugh Howey


Hugh C. Howey is an American writer, known best for the science fiction series Silo, part of which he published independently through Amazon.com's Kindle Direct Publishing system. Howey was raised in Monroe, North Carolina and before publishing his books, he worked as a book store clerk, yacht captain, roofer, and audio technician.

''Wool''

He began the series in 2011, initially writing Wool as a stand-alone short story. His first book was initially published with a small press. After that, he decided to publish through Amazon.com's Kindle Direct Publishing system, because of the freedom of self-publishing. After the series grew in popularity, he began to write more entries for it. Howey began soliciting international rights in 2012, including signing a deal for Brazil. Film rights to the series were sold to 20th Century Fox; Lionsgate also expressed interest.
In 2012, Howey signed a deal with Simon & Schuster to distribute Wool to book retailers across the US and Canada. The deal allowed Howey to continue to sell the book online exclusively. He notably turned down seven figure offers in favor of a mid-six figure sum, in return for maintaining e-book rights.
He has also signed publishing contracts with Random House Century UK for UK distribution of both his Wool and Sand series, published as novels of the same names.
Howey became closely tied to both Amazon/Kindle Direct Publishing and self-publishing as a leader of the new paradigm of publishing. He opened up his Silo Saga to other authors, formalizing that effort when he signed with Kindle Worlds. Though authors like Fredric Shernoff, Jason Gurley, and Michael Bunker all experienced some degree of success that can be attributed to Howey, Wool, and the Kindle Worlds project, nobody was able to replicate Wools success either through tie-in books or those authors' original stories.

Personal life

In mid-2015, Howey gave up his home in Florida, and moved to St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He commissioned the construction of a sailing catamaran, on which he plans to live and sail the world while he continues to write.

Novels and novellas

  1. Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue
  2. Molly Fyde and the Land of Light
  3. Molly Fyde and the Blood of Billions
  4. Molly Fyde and the Fight for Peace
  5. Molly Fyde and the Darkness Deep

    Sand Series

  6. The Belt of the Buried Gods
  7. Out of No Man's Land
  8. Return to Danvar
  9. Thunder Due East
  10. A Rap Upon Heaven's Gate

    Silo Series">Silo (series)">Silo Series

  11. Wool
  12. Wool: Proper Gauge
  13. Wool: Casting Off
  14. Wool: The Unraveling
  15. Wool: The Stranded
  16. First Shift: Legacy
  17. Second Shift: Order
  18. Third Shift: Pact
  19. Dust

    Silo Series Short Stories

These are part of The Apocalypse Triptych collection of short stories.
  1. In the Air from The End is Nigh
  2. In the Mountains from The End is Now
  3. In the Woods from The End Has Come

    Beacon 23 Series

  4. Beacon 23: Part One: Little Noises
  5. Beacon 23: Part Two: Pet Rocks
  6. Beacon 23: Part Three: Bounty
  7. Beacon 23: Part Four: Company
  8. Beacon 23: Part Five: Visitor

    Short Stories

  1. Wayfinding Part 1: Rats and Rafts
  2. Wayfinding Part 2: Hell and Heaven
  3. Wayfinding - Food and Fitness
  4. Wayfinding Part 3: Hot & Cold
  5. Wayfinding Part 4: Old World & New
  6. Wayfinding Part 5: Consciousness and Subconsciousness
  7. Wayfinding Part 6: Highs and Lows

    As editor