Julia Phillips

Julia Phillips (born February 4, 1988) is an American author. Her book Disappearing Earth was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction.

Early life and education Phillips attended Montclair High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Barnard College. She spent a semester of college abroad in Moscow, and was a volunteer at the Crime Victims Treatment Center in New York City for more than a decade.

Career After graduating from college, Phillips earned a Fulbright Program grant allowing her to conduct research in Russia regarding how foreign investment and tourism have affected the Kamchatka Peninsula. She also wrote blog posts for The Moscow Times. During her time in Kamchatka, she began exploring the theme of what everyday harm or hurt against women looks like. She did not wish to pursue the narrative of trauma, but rather the everyday living experiences of women.

This eventually led to the publication of her debut novel Disappearing Earth in 2019, which was shortlisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction. The book, which was based on the fictional kidnapping of two girls in the Kamchatka Peninsula, was also named one of The New York Times Top 10 Best Books of 2019.

Awards Year Work Award Category Result Ref. 2019 Disappearing Earth Center for Fiction First Novel Prize — Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & Thriller National Book Award Fiction National Book Critics Circle Award John Leonard Prize 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence Fiction Young Lions Fiction Award — 2025BearCarol Shields Prize for Fiction— Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize—