Katherine Irene Kurtz (born October 18. 1944) is an American fantasy writer, author of sixteen historical fantasy novels in the Deryni series, as well as occult and urban fantasy. Resident in Ireland for over twenty years, she moved to Virginia in 2007.
Kurtz was born on October 18, 1944, in Coral Gables, Florida, where she also grew up. She secured a scholarship to study chemistry and graduated with a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Miami, later attending medical school for a year and taking an M.A. in Medieval History at UCLA.[1] While pursuing her Masters, she worked for the Los Angeles Police Academy and began writing her first novels.[2][3] She also worked in oceanography and television.[1]
CareerEdit
Kurtz is best known for the Deryni novels and short stories. Her 1970 debut novel, Deryni Rising, was one of the first fantasy novels written in a mode closer to historical fiction than to mythology or legend, as was common in the then-popular high fantasy works such as those by J. R. R. Tolkien. Writing in Strange Horizons, Kari Sperring calls Kurtz the "first writer of secondary-world historical fantasy", noting her close attention to the importance of faith in pre-modern Western societies and her portrayal of magic as a formal, ritual practice as opposed to the "picaresque and informal" way magic was depicted in other fantasy of the time.[4]
Kurtz has a weekly chat with her fan base about her writing, life, cats, and many other subjects.[5]
Personal lifeEdit
Kurtz married Scott MacMillan in 1983; they have one son. Within the following couple of years they moved to Ireland. Both later became naturalized Irish citizens. Until 2007, they lived at Holybrooke (Hollybrook) Hall, in the largest of four houses formed from the original historic building, between Kilmacanogue and Bray in County Wicklow, Ireland. Kurtz wrote, and Macmillan, who had worked in the film industry, took a role as a herald in the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland. They put their Irish home on the market in 2006 for 3.5 million euro,[6] and in 2007 moved back to the United States, to a historic house in Virginia.[7]
The first novel in the series to be published was Deryni Rising in 1970, and the most recent, The King's Deryni, was published in 2014. As of 2016, the series consists of five trilogies, one stand-alone novel, various short stories, and two reference books.
Novel synopses, cover art, and reviews at FantasyLiterature.net 2008-05-26 at the Wayback Machine
October 19, 2023
katherine, kurtz, katherine, irene, kurtz, born, october, 1944, american, fantasy, writer, author, sixteen, historical, fantasy, novels, deryni, series, well, occult, urban, fantasy, resident, ireland, over, twenty, years, moved, virginia, 2007, 2018bornoctobe. Katherine Irene Kurtz born October 18 1944 is an American fantasy writer author of sixteen historical fantasy novels in the Deryni series as well as occult and urban fantasy Resident in Ireland for over twenty years she moved to Virginia in 2007 Katherine KurtzKatherine Kurtz 2018BornOctober 18 1944 1 Coral Gables Florida U S 1 OccupationNovelistNationalityIrish dual citizenship GenreFantasyNotable worksDeryni novelsWebsitewww wbr rhemuthcastle wbr com Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Partial bibliography 4 1 Deryni universe 4 2 The Adept 4 3 Templar books 4 4 Other 4 5 Collaborations 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly life and education EditKurtz was born on October 18 1944 in Coral Gables Florida where she also grew up She secured a scholarship to study chemistry and graduated with a B S in chemistry from the University of Miami later attending medical school for a year and taking an M A in Medieval History at UCLA 1 While pursuing her Masters she worked for the Los Angeles Police Academy and began writing her first novels 2 3 She also worked in oceanography and television 1 Career EditKurtz is best known for the Deryni novels and short stories Her 1970 debut novel Deryni Rising was one of the first fantasy novels written in a mode closer to historical fiction than to mythology or legend as was common in the then popular high fantasy works such as those by J R R Tolkien Writing in Strange Horizons Kari Sperring calls Kurtz the first writer of secondary world historical fantasy noting her close attention to the importance of faith in pre modern Western societies and her portrayal of magic as a formal ritual practice as opposed to the picaresque and informal way magic was depicted in other fantasy of the time 4 She also wrote several occult alternate history novels in her Templar series and urban fantasy novels in her Adept series 4 Kurtz has a weekly chat with her fan base about her writing life cats and many other subjects 5 Personal life EditKurtz married Scott MacMillan in 1983 they have one son Within the following couple of years they moved to Ireland Both later became naturalized Irish citizens Until 2007 they lived at Holybrooke Hollybrook Hall in the largest of four houses formed from the original historic building between Kilmacanogue and Bray in County Wicklow Ireland Kurtz wrote and Macmillan who had worked in the film industry took a role as a herald in the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland They put their Irish home on the market in 2006 for 3 5 million euro 6 and in 2007 moved back to the United States to a historic house in Virginia 7 Partial bibliography EditDeryni universe Edit Main article Deryni novels The first novel in the series to be published was Deryni Rising in 1970 and the most recent The King s Deryni was published in 2014 As of 2016 the series consists of five trilogies one stand alone novel various short stories and two reference books The Adept Edit with Deborah Turner Harris Book I The Adept 1991 Book II The Lodge of the Lynx 1992 Book III The Templar Treasure 1993 Book IV Dagger Magic 1995 Book V Death of an Adept 1996 Templar books Edit with Deborah Turner Harris Book I The Temple and the Stone 1998 Book II The Temple and the Crown April 2001 Other Edit Lammas Night 1983 The Legacy of Lehr 1986 Two Crowns for America 1996 Saint Patrick s Gargoyle 2001 paperback January 2002 Collaborations Edit A partial list of works Kurtz has edited or contributed follows Knights of the Blood 1993 written by Scott MacMillan lightly edited by Katherine Kurtz Knights of the Blood At Sword s Point August 1994 written by Scott MacMillan lightly edited by Katherine Kurtz Tales of the Knights Templar 1995 edited by Katherine Kurtz with a contributed story entitled Obligations On Crusade More Tales of the Knights Templar 1998 edited by Katherine Kurtz with a contributed story Crusade of Fire Mystical Tales of the Knights Templar 2002 edited by Katherine Kurtz with a contributed story In addition she has contributed to a number of anthologies References Edit a b c d Hamilton Clem April 1 1979 Top authors headline science fiction fest Dayton Daily News p 13 Kurtz Katharine 1986 Lammas Night Severn House pp Endpapers ISBN 9780727812490 Science Fiction Encyclopedia Kurtz Katherine sf encyclopedia com Retrieved December 1 2022 a b Sperring Kari March 30 2015 Matrilines The Woman Who Made Fantasy Katherine Kurtz Strange Horizons Archived from the original on April 5 2015 Retrieved April 3 2015 Bynw May 01 2020 rhemuthcastle com Parsons Michael June 1 2006 3 5m for trophy home at base of Sugarloaf Irish Times Retrieved May 24 2019 Kurtz Katherine Biography Archived from the original on April 7 2015 Retrieved April 3 2015 Further reading EditCarter Lin 1973 Imaginary Worlds The Art of Fantasy New York City Ballantine Books pp 163 164 ISBN 9780345033093 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Katherine Kurtz Official website Katherine Kurtz at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database Novel synopses cover art and reviews at FantasyLiterature net Archived 2008 05 26 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Katherine Kurtz amp oldid 1168622360, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
