Jonathan N. Pruitt

Meet Jonathan N. Pruitt, a multifaceted individual who embodies the remarkable fusion of scientific acumen and creative spirit. Once hailed as a rising star in behavioural ecology, Pruitt’s journey has been defined by both scholarly accolades and the resolute pursuit of personal reinvention.

Pruitt’s early years unfolded in an economically challenging rural county of Florida, where his tenacity saw him rise above adversity. A gifted concert pianist, nationally ranked chess player, and budding actor, his insatiable appetite for achievement was evident from a young age. While navigating academia, Pruitt’s academic prowess and inquisitive nature propelled him to become an Associate Professor of behavioural ecology at McMaster University. His dynamic career was further underscored by securing a prestigious Canada 150 Research Chair in Biological Dystopias, a testament to his standing in the scientific community.

Famed especially for his studies of the social behaviour of arachnids, Pruitt was dubbed ‘Spiderman’ and, like the fictional superhero, had the innate talent and ability to scale to great heights.

However, the trajectory of Pruitt’s journey took an unexpected turn with the emergence of a scientific scandal which echoed loudly within the cloisters of the academic community. Yet amidst the tumult, Pruitt maintained that the data anomalies detected constituted a small percentage of the data examined and with few exceptions failed to change a study’s findings. The reader is free to form their own conclusions but, as Pruitt remarked, “Why would I deliberately manipulate data if not for a favourable gain? And do so in such a ham-fisted manner that I was bound to get caught? It doesn’t make a ton of sense.”

Yet, Pruitt’s story does not stop there. Harnessing his abiding love for epic fantasy — a pursuit that kept him sane while conducting field work in the remotes of the world, from the rainforests of Australia to the deserts of Namibia and South Africa —he has transformed into one of today’s most exciting and entertaining dark fantasy authors. His debut novel, The Amber Menhir, confidently introduces a troubled world on the brink of destruction, plagued by the excesses of a vampiric elite locked in bloody political power-play.

Just as with his research into the animal kingdom, Jonathan N. Pruitt’s remarkable story underscores the power of adaptation. His transition from acclaimed scientist to captivating storyteller echoes his philosophy that “a burnt forest is but a blank canvas.” Join him as he embarks on the next leg of his journey with The Shadows of the Monolith series.