Elaine Cunningham (born August 12, 1957) is an American fantasy and science-fiction author, especially known for her almost poetic literary style and her contributions to the Forgotten Realms campaign world, including the realms of Evermeet, Halruaa , Ruathym and Waterdeep.

Amongst Elaine's most popular characters are the half-elf Arilyn Moonblade , the bard Danilo Thann, the quirky drow wizard Liriel Baenre and her enemy - the single-minded Gorlist, Elaith "The Serpent" Craulnober (created by Ed Greenwood), Matteo and Tzigone, and the deep dragon Zz'Pzora.

Elaine is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Journey, from the Star Wars New Jedi Order saga.

Elaine lives in New England with her husband and two teenage sons (both "avid" D&D gamers), and is owned by two cats, Gizmo and Bäsel.

Bibliography

• Songs & Swords (featuring Arilyn, Danilo and Elaith)
  • I. Elfshadow (1991/2000 reprint)
  • II. Elfsong (1994/2000 reprint)
  • III. Silver Shadows (1996/2001 reprint)
  • IV. Thornhold (1998/2001 reprint)
  • V. The Dream Spheres (1999)

• Starlight and Shadows (featuring Liriel, Gorlist and Zz'Pzora)
  • I. Daughter of the Drow (1995)
  • II. Tangled Webs (1996)
  • III. Windwalker (2003)

• (1998)

• Councelors & Kinds (featuring Matteo and Tzigone)
  • I. The Magehound (2000)
  • II. The Floodgate (2001)
  • III. Wizardwar (2002)

• (With Ed Greenwood; due out August 2005)

• Forgotten Realms anthology novellas
  • "The Bargain" - Realms of Valor (1993)
  • "The More Things Change" - Realms of Infamy (1994)
  • "The Direct Approach" - Realms of Magic (1995)
  • "Rite of Blood" - Realms of the Underdark (1996)/The Best of the Realms, Book 1 (2003)
  • "Secrets of Blood, Spirits of the Sea" - Realms of the Arcane (1997)
  • "Speaking with the Dead" - Realms of Mystery (1998)
  • "Fire is Fire" - Realms of the Deep (2000)
  • "A little Knowledge" - Realms of Shadow (2002)
  • "Gorlist's Dragon" - Realms of Dragons (Due out October 2004)

• Del Rey 's Star Wars New Jedi Order
  • Dark Journey, Book 10 (featuring Jaina Solo)

• The Changeling series
  • Shadows in the Darkness (Due out October 2004)

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.

• (From Elaine Cunningham's website, on the subject of author photos): I find this sort of thing unnecessary and irrelevant. It's like that scene from "Wizard of Oz," when the wizard admonishes Dorothy and company, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" It's the illusion -- in this case, the story -- that matters. What difference does it make if an author is male or female, young or old, or for that matter, a Caucasian human or a sentient dolphin?

External links

• Elaine Cunningham's website
• Wizards of the Coast Biography
• Interview at Atlas of Adventure
• Interview at SheridanRealm.com Star Wars: Myths & Magic
• Elaine Cunningham can be contacted through the Candlekeep web forums.