Press Kit

 

Caroline Perny | caroline.perny@tor.com

Kate Elliott has been writing science fiction and fantasy for 30 years, with 27 books in print. Her most recent novel is Unconquerable Sun, gender swapped Alexander the Great in space. She is best known for her Crown of Stars epic fantasy series, the Afro-Celtic post-Roman alt-history fantasy (with lawyer dinosaurs) Cold Magic, and YA fantasy Court of Fives. Her particular focus is immersive world building in epic stories of adventure & transformative cultural change. She lives in Hawaii, where she paddles outrigger canoes & spoils her schnauzer. You can find her online at kateelliott.substack.com and @KateElliottSFF on Twitter.

42-word bio:
 

Elliott is the author of twenty-seven science fiction and fantasy novels, including Unconquerable Sun, Black Wolves, Court of Fives, Cold Magic, Spirit Gate, King’s Dragon, Jaran, and her short fiction collection, The Very Best of Kate Elliott. She lives in Hawaii.

75-word bio:

Kate Elliott has been writing stories since she was nine years old, which has led her to believe that writing, like breathing, keeps her alive. She is the author of twenty-seven science fiction and fantasy novels, including Unconquerable Sun, Court of Fives, Cold Magic, Spirit Gate, King’s Dragon, Jaran, and short fiction collection The Very Best of Kate Elliott. She lives in Hawaii, paddles with outrigger canoe club Keahiakahoe, and spoils her good-natured schnauzer.



Bibliography bio:

Kate Elliott has been writing stories since she was nine years old, which has led her to believe that writing, like breathing, keeps her alive.  Her latest novel is Unconquerable Sun, gender swapped Alexander the Great in space. Her debut YA fantasy trilogy, Court of Fives, is described as “Little Women meets American Ninja Warrior in a fantasy setting inspired by Cleopatra's Egypt.” Two of its volumes were Norton Award finalists. Her Spiritwalker Trilogy (Cold Magic, Cold Fire, Cold Steel) is best explained as an Afro-Celtic post-Roman alternate-19th-century Regency icepunk mashup with airships, Phoenician spies, revolution, and lawyer dinosaurs.  Her previous series include the Crossroads Trilogy (starting with Spirit Gate), an HBO-style epic fantasy series with gritty, complex character studies, plenty of action in well-grounded settings, and giant justice eagles; a related (and RT award winning) novel, Black Wolves, takes place in the same setting many years later. The seven volume epic fantasy series Crown of Stars (starting with King’s Dragon, a Nebula Award finalist) is set in an alternate medieval European landscape where magic has been (literally) woven through the land. The science fiction Novels of the Jaran follow the nomadic people known as the jaran after their first contact with the technologically more advanced society of Earth, a series which the author occasionally describes as "Jane Austen meets Genghis Khan." Her first space opera is the Highroad Trilogy, which begins with A Passage of Stars. In collaboration with Melanie Rawn and Jennifer Roberson she wrote the World Fantasy Award finalist The Golden Key, about a family of painters who use magic to influence the rulers of their country. Her novels have been translated into German, Russian, Polish, Spanish, Dutch, French, Turkish, and Croatian.

She likes to play sports more than she likes to watch them; right now, her sport of choice is outrigger canoe paddling.  She also has a schnauzer.



NOVEL COVERS:

Most recent and upcoming releases included here. Click to view full-size, high-resolution versions of each cover in new tab. For the rest of Kate Elliott's series, and their international editions, please see Covers/Translations.
  NEW RELEASES
A complete list of Kate Elliott's book covers, including new releases, international editions, and translated editions.
Click to view full-size, high-resolution versions of each cover in new tab.
  NEW RELEASES

THE SPIRITWALKER TRILOGY
NOTABLE BLOG POSTS:

For more posts written by me, please see my blog, I Make Up Worlds. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Livejournal.
 

• Where Should I Start With Your Novels?
• Diversity Panels: Where Next?
• On Writing Women Characters
• Writing is Never a Waste of Time
• An Illustrated Love Letter to Smart Bitches and Trashy Books
• NaNoWriMo: A Series on Writing Observations
• Jaran: When "What If" Deals with Gender and Culture
• Reddit Ask Me Anything (March 2015)

INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST:

Interviews in 2015:

• Sirens Conference Guest of Honor Interview
• Ditch Diggers Live from WorldCon (with Fonda Lee, Linda Nagata, and Aliette de Bodard)
• SFSignal: The Very Best of Kate Elliott
• Blog Tour for Kate Elliott's YA debut novel, Court of Fives

For more of my past interviews, see my main Interviews page.


Reviews:
For Kate Elliott's YA novel debut, COURT OF FIVES (Aug. 2015):

• Booklist (Starred Review): "In her first YA novel, World Fantasy Award finalist Elliott once again shows she is a master at world building. The requisite (and forbidden) romance between Jes and Gargaron’s nephew, Kalliarkos, has real spirit, and Jes will remind readers of fearless Katniss with her skill and strategy for games. But it’s the fascinating descriptions of traditions, royal interactions, and, of course, the intensities of the Fives that will enthrall readers most of all. Let the games continue!"
• Kirkus Review: "This series opener, the auspicious teen debut of a seasoned author of adult fantasy and World Fantasy Award finalist, features a gripping, original plot; vivid, complicated characters; and layered, convincingly detailed worldbuilding. A compelling look at racial and social identity wrapped in a page-turning adventure."
• Publishers Weekly: "An imaginative journey...Elliott creates an intricate and intriguing story, conjuring a world of mysticism and centuries-old customs. Jessamy's boldness and impulsiveness make her a striking heroine in a male-dominated land."
• School Library Journal: "Elliott has created a world of warring kingdoms where the victors have built their civilization on the backs of the conquered. Jessamy is a loyal and strong female protagonist who fights against injustice. This trilogy opener will be a hit with readers who love action-packed fantasy adventures."
• VOYA: "Sure to garner a following of adventure and suspense fans. While highly entertaining and fresh, the novel also speaks to issues of gender, class, strife, and identity. Jessamy is an exciting protagonist: strong, quick witted, and smart.... This book is a winner, and readers will be clamoring for the next installment."