Elaine Cunningham

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[]

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, (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] (2006), the second book the series, was named to the 2006 Kirkus Reviews list “Ten Best SciFi Novels."^[6]

Personal life[]

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[]

• Songs & Swords (featuring Arilyn, Danilo and Elaith)
  • I. ^[7] (1991/2000 reprint)
  • II. (1994/2000 reprint)
  • III. ^[7] (1996/2001 reprint)
  • IV. (1998/2001 reprint)
  • V. ^[7] (1999)
• Starlight and Shadows (featuring Liriel, Fyodor, and Gorlist)
  • I. Daughter of the Drow (1995)
  • II. Tangled Webs (1996)
  • III. (2003)
• Evermeet: Island of Elves (1998)
• Counselors & Kings (featuring Matteo and Tzigone)
  • I. The Magehound (2000)
  • II. The Floodgate (2001)
  • III. The Wizardwar (2002)
• (With Ed Greenwood; 2005)
• Forgotten Realms anthology novellas
  • (2003)
    • "Rite of Blood"— (1996)
  • (2007)
    • "The Bargain"— (1993)
    • "The More Things Change"— (1994)
    • "The Direct Approach"—Realms of Magic (1995)
    • "Secrets of Blood, Spirits of the Sea"— (1997)
    • "The Great Hunt"—Dragon magazine #246 (1998)
    • "Speaking with the Dead"— (1998)
    • "Stolen Dreams"—Dragon magazine #259 (1999)
    • "Fire is Fire"— (2000)
    • "Possessions"—Dragon magazine #282 (2002)
    • "A Little Knowledge"— (2002)
    • "Gorlist's Dragon"— (2004)
    • "Games of Chance"—Dragon magazine #335 (2005)
    • "The Knights of Samular"
    • "Tribute"
    • "Answered Prayers"
• Del Rey's Star Wars books
  • Dark Journey, Book 12 of the New Jedi Order series (featuring Jaina Solo)
• The Changeling Detective Agency series
  • I. (2004)
  • II. (2006)
• Pathfinder Tales series
  • Winter Witch (2010), ISBN 978-1-60125-286-9, with Dave Gross

Quotes[]

• (From Candlekeep web forums): Ravens and crows will also interact with humans. Occasionally they'll imitate human behavior (such as helping gardeners pull weeds.) Sometimes they're willing to cut a deal. I've got one going with the local "raven mafia." They always gather on trash pickup day, but in exchange for some "protection bread," they'll leave my trash alone and even chase other birds away from it.

References[]

External links[]

• Elaine Cunningham's website
• Interview at Flames Rising (September 2008)
• Elaine Cunningham at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• "Elaine Cunningham :: Pen & Paper RPG Database". Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2019.