Caroline Stevermer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Caroline Stevermer
Caroline Stevermer, Worldcon 2017.
Born	1955 (age 69–70)
Occupation	Writer
Language	English
Citizenship	American
Education	Bryn Mawr College (BA)
Period	1980–present
Genre	Young adult, Speculative fiction, Fantasy, Historical fiction, Bildungsroman

Caroline Stevermer (born in 1955) is an American writer. She is known for her exciting young adult fantasy novels and shorter stories. Many of her books blend history with magical elements, creating unique historical fantasy tales.

About Caroline Stevermer

Caroline Stevermer was born in 1955. She grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota with her sister and two brothers. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be a writer. She was only 8 years old when she decided this!

She went to Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. There, she earned a degree in art history. Her first two books were published under the name C. J. Stevermer. Later, she started writing under her full name, Caroline Stevermer. Her first novel using this name was The Serpent's Egg. Today, Caroline Stevermer still lives in Minnesota.

Caroline Stevermer's Books

Caroline Stevermer has written many books, both in series and as stand-alone stories. She often creates worlds where magic exists alongside historical settings.

Book Series

Nicholas Coffin Series

These were some of Caroline Stevermer's very first books. She published them under the name C. J. Stevermer. The stories follow an English alchemist named Nicholas Coffin. He has adventures in Rome during the time of the powerful Borgia family.

• The Alchemist: Death of a Borgia (1980)
• The Duke and the Veil (1981)

Cecelia and Kate Series

Caroline Stevermer wrote three books in this series with another author, Patricia C. Wrede. These stories are set in an alternate Regency England. This means it's like England in the early 1800s, but with magic!

The books are told through letters written by two cousins, Kate and Cecelia. They share their adventures involving magic and polite society. The first book was even written by the authors sending letters to each other, without planning the plot ahead of time!

• Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (1988)
• The Grand Tour or The Purloined Coronation Regalia (2004)
• The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After (2006)

Caroline Stevermer also wrote one book by herself in this same world:

• Magic Below Stairs (2010): This story happens after The Grand Tour but before The Mislaid Magician. It follows a character named Frederick Lincoln when he was a child.

You can also find the first two books, Sorcery and Cecelia and The Grand Tour, together in one collection called Magicians of Quality (2005).

A College of Magics Series

This series is set in a magical world with a feel of old European kingdoms. It features a special college where magic is taught. Some people think the college in the books might be inspired by Caroline Stevermer's own college experiences at Bryn Mawr.

• A College of Magics (1994): This book won a Minnesota Book Award.
• A Scholar of Magics (2004): This is a follow-up story to A College of Magics.
• When the King Comes Home (2000): This book tells a story that happened before the events of A College of Magics.

The first two books, A College of Magics and A Scholar of Magics, were also published together as Scholarly Magics (2004).

Stand-Alone Books

Caroline Stevermer has also written several books that are not part of a series.

• River Rats (1992): This is an adventure story set after a big disaster. It follows characters on the Mississippi River, and some people say it reminds them of stories by Mark Twain. This book was recognized as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. It also won the Golden Duck Award and the Golden Kite Award.
• The Serpent's Egg (1998): This is a fantasy novel. It was the first book she wrote using her full name, Caroline Stevermer.
• The Glass Magician (2020): This is a historical fantasy novel.

Stories in Collections

Caroline Stevermer has also written short stories that appear in collections with other authors. These collections often have a specific theme, like fairy tale retellings or stories about magic and mystery.

• All Hallows' Eve: Tales of Love and the Supernatural (1992)
• Snow White, Blood Red (1993)
• The Armless Maiden and Other Tales for Childhood's Survivors (1995)
• The Essential Bordertown (1998)
• The Coyote Road: Trickster Tales (2007)
• Willful Impropriety: 13 Tales of Society, Scandal and Romance (2012)
• Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: An Anthology of Gaslamp Fantasy (2013)
• The Mammoth Book of Gaslit Romances (2014)
• Liavek 6: Wizard's Row (2016)