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 known for her exciting fantasy novels. She also hosted a popular radio show called Sound & Spirit from 1996 to 2010. This show was produced by WGBH in Boston and shared across the country by Public Radio International.
Contents
About Ellen Kushner
Ellen Kushner was born in Washington, D.C., and 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, who is also a writer. They had a wedding in 1996 and were legally married in Boston in 2004.
Her Writing Journey
Ellen Kushner started her writing career by creating five Choose Your Own Adventure gamebooks. These books let readers decide what happens next in the story.
The Riverside Series
Her first novel, Swordspoint, was published in 1987. It's part of a series called the Riverside novels. These books are known as mannerpunk stories. They take place in a make-believe city and a lively area called Riverside. Here, swordsmen-for-hire offer their skills.
- Swordspoint was the first book in the series.
- The Privilege of the Sword came out in 2006. It takes place 18 years after Swordspoint.
- The Fall of the Kings (2002) was co-written with her wife, Delia Sherman. This story is set 40 years after Swordspoint.
Audio versions of these three novels were made between 2011 and 2014. The Swordspoint audiobook won several awards, including the 2013 Audie Award for Best Audio Drama. The Fall of the Kings audiobook also won a Wilbur Award in 2014.
Other Novels and Short Stories
Ellen Kushner's second novel, Thomas the Rhymer, won the World Fantasy Award and the Mythopoeic Award in 1991. She has also written many short stories and poems. These have appeared in different collections, including The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror. She also contributed to the Borderland series, which are urban fantasy stories for young adults.
In 2015, Kushner created Tremontaine. This was a story series released in parts, like a TV show, and it was a prequel to Swordspoint. It ran for four seasons.
Radio Career
In 1987, Ellen Kushner moved to Boston and began working in radio. She joined the public radio station WBGH-FM. She first hosted an all-night radio program called "Night Air."
In 1989, she hosted the Nakamichi International Music Series. She also produced three special programs about Jewish holidays. These included Festival of Liberation: the Passover Story in World Music.
Sound & Spirit
Starting in 1996, Kushner created and hosted "Sound & Spirit." This was a weekly show that lasted an hour. It explored human feelings and ideas through music. 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
In 2002, she released a CD of her story The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer Nutcracker. This story uses music from Pyotr 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 theater version of the story was performed in New York City in 2008 and 2009.
In 2007, Kushner helped write a musical radio drama called The Witches of Lublin. This story was about Jewish women who were musicians in the 1700s. It won several awards, including a Wilbur Award in 2012.
Awards and Recognition
Ellen Kushner has won many awards for her writing.
- In 1991, her novel Thomas the Rhymer won the prestigious World Fantasy Award and the Mythopoeic Award.
- In 2007, her novel The Privilege of the Sword won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
- Her audio drama Swordspoint won the 2013 Audie Award for Best Audio Drama.
- Her CD The Golden Dreydl won a Gracie Award.
Published Works
Riverside Series
- Swordspoint (1987) – ISBN: 978-0812543483
- The Fall of the Kings (with Delia Sherman) (2002) – ISBN: 978-0553381849
- The Privilege of the Sword (2006) – ISBN: 978-1931520201
Standalone Novels
- Thomas the Rhymer (1990) – ISBN: 978-1557100467
- St. Nicholas and the Valley Beyond: A Christmas Legend (1994) – ISBN: 978-0670844203
Choose Your Own Adventure Books
- Outlaws of Sherwood Forest (1985) – ISBN: 978-0553250695
- The Enchanted Kingdom (1986) – ISBN: 978-0553258615
- Statue of Liberty Adventure (1986) – ISBN: 978-0553258134
- Mystery of the Secret Room (1986) – ISBN: 978-0553262704
- Knights of the Round Table (1988) – ISBN: 978-0318371139
Other Works
- The Golden Dreydl (2007) – ISBN: 978-1580891356
- The Man with the Knives (2010), with Thomas Canty – ISBN: 978-0976466062
Books She Edited
- Basilisk (1980) – ISBN: 978-0441048205
- The Horns of Elfland, with Delia Sherman and Donald G. Keller (1997) – ISBN: 978-0451455994
- Welcome to Bordertown (New Stories and Poems of the Borderlands), with Holly Black (2011) – ISBN: 978-0375867057
See also
In Spanish: Ellen Kushner para niños
