Daisy Johnson, the acclaimed British author known for her award-winning debut short story collection *Fen* and her Booker Prize–shortlisted novel *Everything Under*, has spoken about the literary works that have shaped her writing and inspired her voice. Johnson, who grew up in Saffron Walden, Essex, draws much of her creative influence from the distinct landscapes of the fenlands in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, settings that permeate her early work. She later studied creative writing at Oxford University, where she completed a master’s degree and set her first novel.

Reflecting on her literary influences, Johnson highlighted the work of both deceased and contemporary authors. Among the dead, she singled out *A State of Siege* by Janet Frame, originally published in 1966 and recently reissued. The novel centers on a woman living in isolation after the death of her mother and explores themes of ageing, solitude, and the human experience in a stark natural setting. Johnson praised the novel for its truthful portrayal of a middle-aged woman navigating loneliness—an uncommon perspective that she described as revolutionary both in its original era and today.

Johnson also expressed admiration for living authors, naming Miriam Toews as a major inspiration. She singled out Toews’s *Women Talking* for its incisive, witty, and poignant examination of a group of Mennonite women grappling with horrific abuse within their community. The book unfolds as a dialogue among the women debating whether to stay or leave their oppressive environment. Johnson appreciated Toews’s description of the novel as “an act of female imagination,” reclaiming an accusation falsely leveled at the women in the story.

Among underrated contemporary writers, Johnson praised Danish author Olga Ravn for her book *My Work*. Johnson described Ravn’s work as brave and playful while addressing the complex emotional and psychological experiences of new motherhood. She noted that Ravn’s writing eloquently captures the fragmentation of self that many parents confront.

Johnson’s own new novel, *Long Wave*, is scheduled for release on July 2 by Jonathan Cape. The work follows her continued exploration of human relationships and identity through richly nuanced storytelling.