SJ Bradley

SJ Bradley is a novelist, short story writer and radio scriptwriter from Leeds, known for her diverse contributions to contemporary British fiction. Her work spans novels, short stories and audio drama, demonstrating her versatility across different forms of storytelling: Bradley's latest short story collection, Maps of Imaginary Towns (2024).

SJ Bradley was born and raised in Leeds. Her fiction has appeared in various magazines and anthologies, including New Willesden Short Stories 7, Queen Mobs, Litro Magazine and Untitled Books. She debuted with Brick Mother (2014) and her second novel, Guest (2017).

Her latest work, Maps of Imaginary Towns (2024), is an inventive collection of short stories that transports readers into vividly rendered worlds. From a futuristic colony where a woman dreams of rockets to a drab estate where a girl discovers magic, Bradley's stories explore the quiet desperation and heroism of seemingly ordinary lives.

Her experiences working in the public and charitable sectors inspired many of these stories: "I wanted to write about the buildings that were closing, the services that were being cut and the struggles that people were facing," she said in an interview.

In addition to her writing, SJ Bradley is developing an audio drama series, Uneasy Listening, which will be released in early 2025. She is also an active arts organiser, curating literary events such as Fictions of Every Kind and The Northern Short Story Festival.

Photo credit: X @bradleybooks