Josh Silver

Josh Silver is a British author whose career has spanned stage acting, mental health nursing, and writing. Silver trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, performing in the West End and on Broadway before transitioning to work as a mental health nurse with teenagers. His experiences with addiction and recovery have informed both his personal and professional life, shaping his perspective on identity, addiction, and mental health.

Silver began his literary career in young adult fiction, drawing on his background in mental health care. "HappyHead" was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing. His third young adult novel, "Traumaland," won the YA Book Prize and was published in the United States as "Erase Me." "Traumaland" was also named a Book of the Year by The Observer. Silver is the author of "HappyHead," its sequel "Dead Happy," and "Erase Me," with his work as a mental health nurse providing inspiration for these novels.

Silver is also known for his debut adult novel, "Fruit Fly," a literary satire and psychological thriller that explores themes of authorship, appropriation, addiction, and identity. The novel follows Mallory, an author struggling with inspiration, and Leo, a gay man navigating addiction in London. "Fruit Fly" was named a must-read book by BBC and became a Sunday Times bestseller. It appeared on best books lists in Daily Express and Daily Mirror, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and was described by The New York Times as "a funny and nasty novel about appropriation." Television rights for the novel were acquired by A24, with Silver serving as an executive producer.

Silver's work spans queer fiction, dystopian young adult literature, and literary satire, often reflecting his experiences in addiction recovery and mental health care. His novels address the ethics of storytelling, the psychological impact of identity culture, and the complexities of trauma. Silver has established a presence in contemporary British fiction, recognized for his exploration of mental health, LGBTQ+ themes, and the dynamics of modern identity.