Christian Hurst
| Christian Hurst | |
|---|---|
 Author Christian Hurst at Tattered Corners Bookstore.jpg | |
| Born | 1982-11-23 |
| 🏳️ Nationality | American |
| 🏫 Education | HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, PennWest Edinboro |
| 💼 Occupation | Author |
| 👶 Children | 1 |
Christian Hurst (born November 23, 1982)[1] is an American author, creative director, and brand strategist.[2] He is best known as the creator of the young adult space opera book series Lily Starling[3] and for his career in corporate brand leadership.[4]
Early Life and Education
Hurst was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[5] He was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), an upbringing he has noted influenced his later worldview regarding absolutism and identity.[6] He left the church as a young adult and identifies as an atheist and humanist.[7]
As a teenager, Hurst began his career in design as a graphic design intern for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[8] He went on to study graphic design at Harrisburg Area Community College[9] before attending Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (now PennWest Edinboro).[10]
Career
Hurst built a career combining in-house and agency roles within corporate design and brand strategy.[11][12] While living in Northwest Pennsylvania, he left university to pursue professional opportunities full-time.[4]
He eventually joined Marriott International, serving as Design Director during the company's major merger with Starwood Hotels & Resorts.[13][14] In this role, Hurst led design and brand initiatives across Marriott's global hotel portfolio and played a key part in the social strategy and development of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.[13] He later transitioned to a senior brand leadership role at AARP.[15]
Literary Career
In January 2025, Hurst self-published his debut novel, Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander.[16] The young adult space opera introduces themes of time travel, found family, and characters navigating corrupt systems of control.[17]
Utilizing his background in brand strategy and marketing, the book achieved notable independent success.[18] Hurst subsequently entered into a publishing partnership with Outpost Books, an independent press based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[19] Under this partnership, the debut novel was reissued in a revised second edition featuring updated formatting, professional editing, and new cover art.[20]
Recognition and Awards
The Lily Starling series has received positive critical reception.[21] In 2026, Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander won the Gold Medal for "Best First Book (Juvenile/Young Adult)" at the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards).[22]
The series has been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews and was featured in an August 2026 industry spotlight in Kirkus Reviews Magazine.[23] Additionally, media coverage has highlighted Hurst's work within broader trend analyses of independent publishing, and reviewers have praised the series' organic inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes.[24]
Bibliography
The series is projected to span five volumes following the central protagonist, Lily, who is transported 500 years into the future.[7] Hurst has also stated intentions for a subsequent five-book sequel series following the same characters later in life.[25]
- Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander (ISBN 979-8218788032, January 30, 2025)[26]
- Lily Starling and the Storm Riders (ISBN 979-8993932712, July 14, 2025)[27]
- Lily Starling and the Death Machine (ISBN 979-8993932705, April 30, 2026)[28]
- Lily Starling and the River of Time (ISBN 979-8993932774, September 9, 2026)[29]
Personal Life
Hurst lived in Baltimore, Maryland, for the majority of his creative career, where his son was born.[30][5] He and his wife are active in animal rescue and rights advocacy.[3] Hurst currently resides in Pennsylvania.[31]
In public appearances and interviews, Hurst frequently cites the influence of classic science fiction television, particularly Star Trek, on his humanistic philosophy and creative writing.[32]
References
- ↑ "Christian Hurst | Author | LibraryThing". LibraryThing.com. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ "Christian Hurst". Gravatar. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander by Christian Hurst | BookLife". booklife.com. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Christian Hurst - Director Of Brand Strategy And Creative Services at AARP". THE ORG. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Christian Hurst". Podcast Guests. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ "Embracing Authenticity: A Conversation with Author Christian Hurst". Eunoia Zen Inc. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Interview with Author Christian Hurst". BookView Review. 2026-04-25. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ Richardson, John (2025-12-31). "Big Adventure, Real Feelings, and Lasting Hope | Christian Hurst". Richardson's Rubicon Podcast. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ "HACC Announces Fall Dean's List". www.hacc.edu. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ Hurst, Christian (2026-06-30). "Full Circle in Northwest Pennsylvania". The Salamander Log — The Lily Starling Newsletter. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ "Christian Hurst". christianhurstdesign.com. Archived from the original on 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ Your Brand Amplified® (2026-04-01). Accountability Over AI: Christian Hurst's Framework for Creative Integrity. Retrieved 2026-07-05 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Staff, T. H. R. (2016-12-15). "Marriott Content Studio Launches Half-Hour Reality Series 'Hotel Countdown' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ "Marriott International seals deal on mega-merger of rewards programs -- And the perks are seemingly endless". Yahoo News. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ Your Brand Amplified® (2026-04-01). Accountability Over AI: Christian Hurst's Framework for Creative Integrity. Retrieved 2026-07-05 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Hurst, Christian (2025-05-07). "Sci-Fi Author Christian Hurst on Creativity, Resilience, and Making Art Anyway". The Salamander Log — The Lily Starling Newsletter. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ Contributor, Today's Read (2025-10-23). "Lily Starling: The Indie Sci-Fi Saga Making Waves". Todays Read. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ Contributor, NY Review (2025-10-26). "Lily Starling: Christian Hurst's Uplifting Space Opera that's Winning Hearts Across the Galaxy". NY Review. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ parkmagazineny.com https://parkmagazineny.com/reframing-space-opera-inside-christian-hursts-character-driven-sci-fi/. Retrieved 2026-07-05. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander". richbooksmagazine.com. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ "A New Take on Space Opera: Author Christian Hurst Earns Three Top Honors at The BookFest - CB Herald". 2026-04-20. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ Roberts, Allison (2026-06-22). "2026 Medalists - General Categories | IPPY Book Awards". Independent Publisher Book Awards. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ LILY STARLING AND THE DEATH MACHINE | Kirkus Reviews. Search this book on
- ↑ Bates, Chris (2026-06-23). "Book Review: Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander by Christian Hurst". North Penn Now. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ "Christian Hurst". LITERARY TITAN. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander. 2025-01-30. ISBN 979-8-218-78803-2. Search this book on
- ↑ Lily Starling and the Storm Riders. Search this book on
- ↑ Lily Starling and the Death Machine. Search this book on
- ↑ Lily Starling and the River of Time. Search this book on
- ↑ McCauley, Mary Carole (2014-11-20). "At 100, the Baltimore Museum of Art reinvents itself for a younger generation". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ "Christian Hurst | Author | LibraryThing". LibraryThing.com. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ Zaka, Usman (24 June 2026). "Voices of the Salamander: Christian Hurst and Aryn Mello Pryor on Sci-Fi, Identity, and Found Family". Vents Magazine.
