Ellen Kushner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellen Kushner
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Kushner in 2013
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| Born | October 6, 1955 (age 69) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Alma mater | Barnard College |
| Genre | Speculative fiction, fantasy of manners |
| Notable awards | 1991 World Fantasy Award, 1991 Mythopoeic Award, and 2007 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel |
| Spouse | Delia Sherman |
Ellen Kushner (born October 6, 1955) is an American author who writes fantasy books. She is known for her unique stories. From 1996 to 2010, she hosted a radio show called Sound & Spirit. This show explored human feelings through music and ideas.
Contents
About Ellen Kushner
Early Life and Education
Ellen Kushner was born in Washington, D.C. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She went to Bryn Mawr College and later graduated from Barnard College. Today, she lives in New York City with her wife, Delia Sherman. Delia is also a writer and sometimes works with Ellen. They got married in 1996 and legally in Boston in 2004.
Ellen Kushner's Writing Career
First Books and Swordspoint Series
Ellen Kushner started her writing career with five Choose Your Own Adventure books. These are special books where readers make choices that change the story. Her first full novel, Swordspoint, came out in 1987.
Swordspoint is part of a series. A sequel, The Privilege of the Sword, was published in 2006. Another book, The Fall of the Kings (2002), was written with Delia Sherman. These books are set in an imaginary city. They feature swordsmen who work for hire in a lively area called Riverside.
Award-Winning Audiobooks
Between 2011 and 2014, audio versions of her three novels were made. These audiobooks were part of "Neil Gaiman Presents." The Swordspoint audiobook won the 2013 Audie Award for Best Audio Drama. The Fall of the Kings audiobook also won a Wilbur Award in 2014.
Other Notable Works
Ellen Kushner's second novel, Thomas the Rhymer, won the World Fantasy Award in 1991. It also won the Mythopoeic Award that same year. She has written many short stories and poems. These have appeared in different collections, including the Borderland series for young adult readers.
Radio Work and Sound & Spirit
In 1987, Ellen moved to Boston and began working in radio. She joined public radio station WBGH-FM. She first hosted an all-night show called "Night Air." Later, she hosted the Nakamichi International Music Series. She also produced special programs about Jewish holidays.
In 1996, Ellen started writing and hosting "Sound & Spirit." This was a weekly show that lasted an hour. It explored human feelings through music and ideas. The show featured different types of music, like folk, classical, and world music. Many special guests appeared, including musician Mickey Hart and writer Neil Gaiman. "Sound & Spirit" was on the air until 2010.
Musical Stories and Plays
In 2002, Ellen released a CD of her story The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer Nutcracker. This story uses music from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker to tell a Hanukkah tale. The music was played by the Shirim Klezmer Orchestra. The Golden Dreydl won a Gracie Award. A live play version of The Golden Dreydl was performed in New York City in 2008 and 2009.
In 2007, Ellen helped write a musical audio drama called The Witches of Lublin. This story was about Jewish women who were musicians in Europe in the 1700s. It first aired on radio stations in 2011. It won several awards, including a Wilbur Award and a Grace Allen Award.
Recent Projects
In 2011, Ellen co-edited Welcome to Bordertown with Holly Black. This book is a collection of new stories set in the "Borderlands" world. In 2015, Ellen created Tremontaine, a story series that takes place before Swordspoint. This series ran for four seasons.
Ellen Kushner is also involved in the interstitial art movement. This movement combines different art forms. She helped start the Interstitial Arts Foundation. She has also taught writing classes at various workshops and universities.
Awards and Recognition
Ellen Kushner has received many awards for her writing.
Major Awards
- 1991: Thomas the Rhymer won the World Fantasy Award (tied).
- 2007: The Privilege of the Sword was nominated for the Nebula Award and the World Fantasy Award.
Locus Awards (Reader Polls)
The Locus Award is chosen by readers.
- 1988: Swordspoint was nominated for Best First Novel.
- 1991: Thomas the Rhymer was nominated for Best Fantasy Novel.
- 2007: The Privilege of the Sword won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
- 2012: Welcome to Bordertown was nominated for Best Anthology.
Published Books
Riverside Series
- Swordspoint (1987)
- The Fall of the Kings (with Delia Sherman) (2002)
- The Privilege of the Sword (2006)
Other Novels
- Thomas the Rhymer (1990)
- St. Nicholas and the Valley Beyond: A Christmas Legend (1994)
Choose Your Own Adventure Books
- Outlaws of Sherwood Forest (1985)
- The Enchanted Kingdom (1986)
- Statue of Liberty Adventure (1986)
- Mystery of the Secret Room (1986)
- Knights of the Round Table (1988)
Shorter Works
- The Golden Dreydl (2007, 2021)
- The Man with the Knives (2010)
Edited Collections
- Basilisk (1980)
- The Horns of Elfland, with Delia Sherman and Donald G. Keller (1997)
- Welcome to Bordertown (New Stories and Poems of the Borderlands), with Holly Black (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Ellen Kushner para niños
