nalo hopkinson (born 20 december 1960) is a jamaican-born canadian speculative fiction writer and editor. she lives and teaches in riverside, california. her novels ("brown girl in the ring", "midnight robber", "the salt roads", "the new moon's arms") and short stories such as those in her collection "skin folk" often use caribbean history and language. hopkinson's favorite writers include samuel r. delany, tobias s. buckell, and charles saunders.