Elaine Cunningham Explained

Elaine Cunningham
Birth Date:	12 August 1957
Birth Place:	New York City, U.S.
Occupation:	Novelist
Period:	1991–present
Genre:	Fantasy, Science fiction
Notableworks:	Forgotten Realms, Starlight & Shadows, and The New Jedi Order novels

Elaine Cunningham (born August 12, 1957 in New York City) 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.^{[1] [2]}

Biography

Cunningham was born in New York City, and grew up in New York state and New England.^[1] A voracious reader since childhood, she earned a degree in music education with a minor in history.^[1]

She started writing in 1987, after her older son was born.^[1] A lifelong fascination with folklore and mythology led her to the fantasy genre,^{[3] [4]} and her background in music and history^{[1] [4] [3]} gave her an affinity for bards such as Danilo Thann,^[3] created for her first novel, Elfshadow (1991).^[1] Many of her stories focus on elves,^{[2] [1]} which she attributes to her excessive fondness for cats.^{[1] [3]}

Cunningham is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Journey,^[5] book 10 from the Star Wars New Jedi Order saga.^[4] 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

Now a full-time arts administrator, Cunningham continues to write, albeit mostly in the early morning hours. She lives in coastal Rhode Island.^[3]

Bibliography

Dungeons & Dragons

• Songs & Swords (featuring Arilyn, Danilo and Elaith)
  • I. Elfshadow^[7] (1991/2000 reprint)
  • II. Elfsong (1994/2000 reprint)
  • III. Silver Shadows (1996/2001 reprint)
  • IV. Thornhold (1998/2001 reprint)
  • V. The Dream Spheres (1999)
• Spelljammer anthology novellas
  • The Cloakmaster Cycle
    • The Radiant Dragon (1992),
• Starlight and Shadows (featuring Liriel, Fyodor, and Gorlist)
  • I. Daughter of the Drow (1995)
  • II. Tangled Webs (1996)
  • III. Windwalker (2003)
• (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

• 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. Shadows in the Darkness (2004)
  • II. Shadows in the Starlight (2006)
• Pathfinder Tales series
  • Winter Witch (2010),, 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.

External links

• Elaine Cunningham's website
• Interview at Flames Rising (September 2008)
  • Web site: Elaine Cunningham :: Pen & Paper RPG Database . February 25, 2005 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20050225004149/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=75 . August 5, 2019 .

Notes and References

1. Varney. Allen. Allen Varney. ProFiles: Elaine Cunningham. Dragon.
   1. 246
   . 120. Wizards of the Coast. Renton, Washington. April 1998.
2. Book: Buker, Derek M. . 2002 . The science fiction and fantasy readers' advisory: the librarian's guide to cyborgs, aliens, and sorcerers . 127–128 . ALA readers' advisory series . ALA Editions . 0-8389-0831-4 . registration .
3. http://www.elainecunningham.com Elaine Cunningham's website
4. Web site: Elaine Cunningham. https://web.archive.org/web/20090511170012/http://ww2.wizards.com/Books/Wizards/Bios/default.aspx?doc=ElaineCunningham. May 11, 2009.
5. Cunningham, Elaine 1957- . https://web.archive.org/web/20160316202431/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-2591200037.html . dead . March 16, 2016 . . January 1, 2007 . October 18, 2012. HighBeam Research.
6. https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2007/01/kirkus_best_books_of_2006/?fbclid=IwAR2vACgKns7QSJkExK1AzzR_-dPYK-dqu6czwSaKnFqE2nnvlT0j3dO0aTY SF Signal magazine "Kirkus Best Books of 2006"
7. Web site: Don . Bassingthwaite . SF Site . A Conversation With Elaine Cunningham . 2010-01-23 .