Authority control databases
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
Dungeons & Dragons
Categories
Elaine Cunningham | |
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| Born | August 12, 1957 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Period | 1991–present |
| Genre | Fantasy, Science fiction |
| Notable works | Forgotten Realms, Starlight & Shadows, and The New Jedi Order novels |
| Website | |
| elainecunningham | |
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]
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]
Now a full-time arts administrator, Cunningham continues to write, albeit mostly in the early morning hours. She lives in coastal Rhode Island.[4]