Elizabeth Wetmore

Elizabeth Wetmore is a critically acclaimed and award-winning author best known for her 2020 novel Valentine. The novel, which was shortlisted for numerous awards, tells the story of the women of Odessa, Texas in the mid-1970s, revealing the impact of the oil industry on their lives.

Raised in Amarillo, Texas, Elizabeth Wetmore was inspired to tell the stories of the residents of the Texas Panhandle. Disturbed by the tales of poverty, injustice and inequality that surrounded her, she began to write in order to give voice to those who had no other outlet. She received her degree in English literature from Wellesley College and went on to pursue a master’s degree at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Elizabeth worked in publishing and as a freelance editor. She is also the recipient of an Artist Fellowship in Fiction from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Apart from teaching writing at various institutions, she has also worked for the University of Houston’s Creative Writing Program and Houston Public Library.

Valentine, Wetmore’s literary debut, has been praised for its multi-faceted approach to storytelling—weaving together the experience of living within a patriarchal society, the lasting effects of oil-funded economic disparity, and tales of love, loss and redemption. The novel follows the lives of the women who call Odessa home, exploring the challenges of being female and Latina in a space often dominated by men and privilege.

In addition to being selected as a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Pick and an Indie Next Pick, Valentine was also longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, a prestigious award that seeks to recognize books that “illuminates critical social issues.” The novel has drawn comparisons to the works of writers such as Celeste Ng and Sandra Cisneros, demonstrating Elizabeth Wetmore’s unique style and her talent for bringing history to life.

In the year since its publication, Wetmore has been vocal about the challenges women face in a male-dominated industry. For this reason, she has become a source of inspiration for many aspiring writers who share her vision of championing female voices. Her advice, available through interviews and essays, is as wise as it is inspiring.

In spite of her hectic writing and publicity schedule, Elizabeth Wetmore has chosen to dedicate her summer to the crucial mission of celebrating the lives of rural women in the country’s heartland—a quest she describes as nothing short of a moral compass. It’s only a matter of time before her second novel—already in the works—makes its way onto the bookshelves. Until then, her debut novel will continue to dazzle and move readers around the world.