Occupation Novelist Role Author Name Elaine Cunningham | Period 1991–present Nationality American | |
Born August 12, 1957 (age 66)
New York City, New York ( 1957-08-12 ) Genre Fantasy, Science fiction Notable works Forgotten Realms, Starlight & Shadows, and The New Jedi Order novels Books Elfshadow, Elfsong, Thornhold, The Dream Spheres, Evermeet: Island of Elves Similar People Ed Greenwood, Troy Denning, Richard Lee Byers, Philip Athans, Jeff Grubb | ||
FRS Elaine Cunningham
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, including the realms of Evermeet, Halruaa, Ruathym and Waterdeep.
Contents
Biography
Elaine Cunningham grew up in New York state and New England. She earned a degree in music, taught Music and History for several years, and then went back to grad school. Her interests include Celtic and Renaissance music, folklore and mythology, costuming, living history, and travel. Trained primarily as a singer, she has taken up Irish fiddle and harp.
Cunningham started writing when her oldest son was a baby. She has written a number of novels set in the Forgotten Realms. Her first book was titled Elfshadow: "Even though its my first book and admittedly has some rough spots, I think that Elfshadow [1991] remains my favorite." Cunningham grew fond of the book's stars, Arilyn Moonblade, a half-elf with blood ties to the royal family, and a bard named Danilo Thann. "I’ve written two sequels (Elfsong [1994] and Silver Shadows [1996]) and several short stories... I really enjoy time spent with them." Her 1998 book Evermeet: Island of Elves chronicles the whole history of Evermeet and features the return of Arilyn and Danilo: "Evermeet still terrifies me, but I think it turned out to be a good story. It adds a bit more color and dimension to Toril's elves and perhaps suggests a few new ways to think about them."
Amongst Cunningham's most popular characters are the half-elf Arilyn Moonblade, the bard Danilo Thann, the quirky drow wizard Liriel Baenre, her companion the Rashemi berserker Fyodor, and Elaith "The Serpent" Craulnober (created by Ed Greenwood).
Cunningham is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Journey, book 10 from the Star Wars New Jedi Order saga.
Cunningham lives in New England with her husband and their two sons.