Elaine Cunningham

Elaine Cunningham
Born (1957-08-12) August 12, 1957 (age 68)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationNovelist
Period1991–present
GenreFantasy, Science fiction
Notable worksForgotten Realms, Starlight & Shadows, and The New Jedi Order novels
Website
elainecunningham.com

Elaine Cunningham (born August 12, 1957 in New York City)[1] is an American fantasy and science fiction author, especially known for her contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game campaign setting of Forgotten Realms.[2][3]

Biography

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Cunningham was born in New York City, and grew up in New York state and New England.[2] A voracious reader since childhood, she earned a degree in music education with a minor in history.[2]

She started writing in 1987, after her older son was born.[2] A lifelong fascination with folklore and mythology led her to the fantasy genre,[4][5] and her background in music and history[2][5][4] gave her an affinity for bards such as Danilo Thann,[4] created for her first novel, Elfshadow (1991).[2] Many of her stories focus on elves,[3][2] which she attributes to her excessive fondness for cats.[2][4]

Elves suddenly clicked for me when I realized they're essentially bipedal cats with localized fur. They possess a decidedly feline grace, beauty, and dexterity, not to mention 110% of a cat's attitude.

— Elaine Cunningham

Cunningham is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Journey,[1] book 10 from the Star Wars New Jedi Order saga.[5] Shadows in the Starlight (2006), the second book the Changeling Detective series, was named to the 2006 Kirkus Reviews list "Ten Best SciFi Novels."[6]

Personal life

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Now a full-time arts administrator, Cunningham continues to write, albeit mostly in the early morning hours. She lives in coastal Rhode Island.[4]

Bibliography

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Dungeons & Dragons

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  • Songs & Swords (featuring Arilyn, Danilo and Elaith)
    • I. Elfshadow[7] (1991/2000 reprint)
    • II. Elfsong (1994/2000 reprint)
    • III. Silver Shadows[7] (1996/2001 reprint)
    • IV. Thornhold (1998/2001 reprint)
    • V. The Dream Spheres[7] (1999)
  • Spelljammer anthology novellas
    • The Cloakmaster Cycle
      • The Radiant Dragon (1992), ISBN 978-1560763468[4]
  • Starlight and Shadows (featuring Liriel, Fyodor, and Gorlist)
  • Evermeet: Island of Elves (1998)
  • Counselors & Kings (featuring Matteo and Tzigone)
    • I. The Magehound (2000)
    • II. The Floodgate (2001)
    • III. The Wizardwar (2002)
  • City of Splendors: A Novel of Waterdeep (With Ed Greenwood; 2005)
  • Forgotten Realms anthology novellas
    • The Best of the Realms, Book 1 (2003)
      • "Rite of Blood"—Realms of the Underdark (1996)
    • The Best of the Realms, Book III: The Stories of Elaine Cunningham (2007)
      • "The Bargain"—Realms of Valor (1993)
      • "The More Things Change"—Realms of Infamy (1994)
      • "The Direct Approach"—Realms of Magic (1995)
      • "Secrets of Blood, Spirits of the Sea"—Realms of the Arcane (1997)
      • "The Great Hunt"—Dragon #246 (1998)
      • "Speaking with the Dead"—Realms of Mystery (1998)
      • "Stolen Dreams"—Dragon #259 (1999)
      • "Fire is Fire"—Realms of the Deep (2000)
      • "Possessions"—Dragon #282 (2002)
      • "A Little Knowledge"—Realms of Shadow (2002)
      • "Gorlist's Dragon"—Realms of Dragons (2004)
      • "Games of Chance"—Dragon #335 (2005)
      • "The Knights of Samular"
      • "Tribute"
      • "Answered Prayers"

Other

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Cunningham, Elaine 1957-". Contemporary Authors. January 1, 2007. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2012 – via HighBeam Research.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Varney, Allen (April 1998). "ProFiles: Elaine Cunningham". Dragon (#246). Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast: 120.
  3. ^ a b Buker, Derek M. (2002). The science fiction and fantasy readers' advisory: the librarian's guide to cyborgs, aliens, and sorcerers. ALA readers' advisory series. ALA Editions. pp. 127–128. ISBN 0-8389-0831-4.
  4. ^ a b c d e f http://www.elainecunningham.com
  5. ^ a b c "Elaine Cunningham". Archived from the original on May 11, 2009.
  6. ^ https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2007/01/kirkus_best_books_of_2006/?fbclid=IwAR2vACgKns7QSJkExK1AzzR_-dPYK-dqu6czwSaKnFqE2nnvlT0j3dO0aTY
  7. ^ a b c Bassingthwaite, Don. "A Conversation With Elaine Cunningham". SF Site. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
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