J F Garrard is a Chinese Canadian editor, novelist, writer of speculative fiction and founder of Dark Helix Press, an indie publisher that specializes in multicultural fantasy, science fiction, and “raw non-fiction.” She is interested in increasing awareness of diversity issues and breaking down cultural stereotypes through her dark stories. Garrard was born in Toronto and earned bachelor degrees in Nuclear medicine (University of Toronto) and Biology (University of Waterloo) prior to earning an MBA in Marketing and Strategy at York University. Garrard currently serves as a Marketing Consultant on the Editorial Board for Ricepaper Magazine. She co-edited, with Jen Frankel, an anthology of new writing from around the world entitled Trump: Utopia or Dystopia. With Allan Cho, Dawn Chow and Silvia Leung, Garrard edited the third volume in Ricepaper Magazine Books series, Belief.
Fiction
Ghost Bride of Gum San
Ontario: DarkWinter Press, 2025.
forthcoming
Synopsis
In 1869, Pearl Ming Ju Wong and her sister, skilled yokai demon hunters, are sold to tong gangs in San Francisco by their gambling-addicted father. During their journey to America, they are thrown overboard as ghost brides for dead miners. Pearl is rescued by the Asgard alliance who task her with retrieving a piece of the legendary Crystal Armour from an all-girls convent in exchange for her freedom. However, she secretly plans to use this mission to gain information about her lost sister through a deal with an octopus yokai. This sets Pearl on a path where she must choose between saving her sister or protecting the people of Gum San from destruction. This thrilling xuanhuan adventure is a fascinating blend of Eastern and Western concepts rooted in Chinese Taoism and European Christianity.
Fiction
The Undead Sorceress
Toronto: Dark Helix Press, 2014.
Series: The International House of Vampires ; v. 1
Publisher’s Synopsis
Ever since Tamara became a vampire, things have gone downhill. Her grandmother runs off with her daughter’s soul and her husband thinks she is going crazy. Caught in the middle of a war between vampires, sorceresses and warlocks, she discovers an alternative history to the world she thought she knew.
This fantasy adventure is a bittersweet tale about dealing with devastating choices, filial responsibilities, betrayal, redemption and finding the strength to carry on when it seems like there is no future.
Anthology (Poetry)
Currents: A Ricepaper Anthology
Vancouver: Ricepaper Magazine/Asian Canadian Writers Workshop, 2017.
PS8235 .A8 C87 2017
Garrard, JF. “Three Microaggressions.” In Currents, A Ricepaper Anthology, edited by Karla Comanda, Leila Lee and William Tham. Vancouver: Asian Canadian Writers Workshop, 2017, 44-45.
Non-fiction
The Literary Elephant: The Beginner’s Guide to Indie Publishing
Toronto: Dark Helix Press, 2015.
Links
Publisher Dark Helix Press
Publisher DarkWinter Press
JF Garrard’s personal website, Musings of a Generic Asian
Profile by Ed Seaward: “JF Garrard-A Spark of Madness that is Anything but Generic” In Profiles From the Bright Side of the Road, posted February 5, 2020.