Not a name that’s well known about the field, but Kit Reed had been writing SF since the 1950s (she has a story in the October Asimov’s). She is one of the best writers of social science fiction – no spaceships or the usual tropes, but a look at social trends. Her Thinner Than Thou is a satirical look at American’s obsession with diet; when I read it, it reminded me how much I missed books like that, which were common when I was growing up.
Her Enclave is a critique of the modern parenting trend of protecting your kids from all potential dangers. It’s one of the best SF novels in years.
The closest to mainstream success was her story “The Attack of the Giant Baby,” which was acknowledged as an influence in Honey I Blew Up the Kid.
I was lucky enough to meet her once, where I went all fanboy on Enclave, something I rarely do with authors I meet.