Barbara Kingsolver to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Kingsolver fans. Speculation had been rife that the author of Demon Copperhead will announce her retirement from all public activities, at age 71, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 01/07/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an author isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an author just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouBarbara

For a little while on Tuesday evening, #ThankYouBarbara was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouBarbara.”
— @DesireePlum, 30 Jun 2026

“Kingsolver wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 30 Jun 2026

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