Piper J. Drake (born September 15, 1976, in New York State) is a Thai American author and podcast personality. She has also written as PJ Schnyder.
Early life
She studied at Trenton State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She began a career in life sciences and graduated from Temple University with a Master of Science in Quality Assurance/Regulatory Affairs.
Career
Piper J. Drake (or "PJ") began her writing career in 2010 as "PJ Schnyder" writing award-winning science fiction & paranormal romance and steampunk.
Her first podcast credit came from narrating her own short story written as PJ Schnyder, A Swan in Siam, for Tales from the Archives Vol. 2 set in the world of The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences created by Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine. She has provided her voice to episodes of The Voice of Free Planet X by Jared Axelrod. She appears as a guest on The Shared Desk by Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine occasionally and is co-host of MangoRicePod with her partner, Matthew J. Drake.
In 2015, she began writing romantic suspense as Piper J. Drake. She debuted in the genre with the Safeguard series, published by Carina Press. Her True Heroes series, published by Hachette Book Group's Grand Central Publishing's Forever imprint, launched in 2016.
In 2017, Drake joined the cast of Writing Excuses as a host for season 12. She also launched 20 Minute Delay, a podcast on travel co-hosted with Gail Carriger.
Recognized by the Romance Writers of America in 2018 as a Romance Trailblazer, having written the first Own Voices Thai (Southeast Asian) romance.
Surprise guest with TypecastRPG on Twitch in July 2020, she joined the cast in 2021.
Publications
Novels
Heart's Sentinel written as PJ Schnyder, Carina Press, 2010, Fighting Kat written as PJ Schnyder, Carina Press, 2014, ASIN: B00F942UCI Hidden Impact, Carina Press, 2015, Extreme Honor, Forever – Hachette Book Group, 2016, Deadly Testimony, Carina Press, 2016, Ultimate Courage, Forever – Hachette Book Group, 2016, Absolute Trust, Forever – Hachette Book Group, 2016, Contracted Defense, Carina Press, 2017, Total Bravery, Hachette Book Group, 2018, Fierce Justice, Hachette Book Group, 2019, Forever Strong, Hachette Book Group, 2020, Wings Once Cursed & Bound, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2023,
Novellas
Red's Wolf written as PJ Schnyder, Decadent Publishing, 2010, Evie's Gift written as PJ Schnyder, Decadent Publishing, 2010, Hunting Kat written as PJ Schnyder, Carina Press, 2011, ASIN: B005078OME Bite Me written as PJ Schnyder, Carina Press, 2011, ASIN: B005078OME Sing for the Dead written as PJ Schnyder, Carina Press, 2011, ASIN: B005078OME Survive to Dawn written as PJ Schnyder, Carina Press, 2011, ASIN: B005078OME Siren's Calling (The Sea King's Daughters Book 4), 2018, ASIN: B07FWSWV5T Gaming Grace (Gone Wild Book 2), 2020, ASIN: B081155LZ1
Short stories
A Swan in Siam written as PJ Schnyder, Tales from the Archives, 2013
Winter Valor, True Heroes short story in 2016
A Calamity of Crows written as PJ Schnyder, Tales from the Archives, releasing in 2017
Awards and recognition
2014 Prism Award from Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Chapter of the RWA for Sing for the Dead written as PJ Schnyder 2013 Golden Leaf Award from New Jersey Romance Writers for Bite Me written as PJ Schnyder 2013 Parsec Award winner for Best Speculative Fiction: Small Cast (Short Form)