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Raven Oak

December 15, 2023

Raven Oak (born December 21, 1977 in Riverside, California) is an American author and artist whose written works range from science fiction & fantasy to cross-genre. She is most known for her bestselling epic fantasy, Amaskan's Blood,[1] and her space operas, Class-M Exile[2] and The Eldest Silence. She wrote her first novel, a 320-page fantasy work at age twelve.[3] She is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and is disabled from both a birth defect in the lower spine and an auto-immune disease. She is also a pianist and songwriter, whose musical works deal with the survival side of life. Currently residing in Seattle, Washington, Oak is currently focusing on writing and art full-time.

Raven Oak
Oak in 2013
Born (1977-12-21) December 21, 1977 (age 45)
Riverside, California, U.S.
OccupationWriter, musician
EducationB.S., 2001; M.S., 2005
Alma materUniversity of North Texas
Period2000s–present
GenreFantasy, science fiction, dark fantasy
SpouseErik Carson (1996–present)
Website
ravenoak.net

Early life edit

Oak grew up in many places around the U.S. including California, Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas, where she eventually attended Richland College and later the University of North Texas as a music major. A military child, her family moved frequently until they settled in Texas in 1989. Her maternal grandmother was a public school teacher in California and under her tutelage, Oak was reading and writing at age three.[4]

Oak knew "since the age of five" that she "wanted to be a writer,"[5] a wish that never changed through the years. "They said I could be anything, do anything. So I did!"[5]

After high school, the rest of the family moved out of state, but Oak remained in North Texas to attend college and received both her Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Science Degree in CECS from UNT.[3]

Writing career edit

Early writings edit

Oak has written stories for as long as she can remember, and before that, she was telling them.[5] She wrote her first novel, "The Cry of the Dragon" at age twelve. The novel was heavily influenced by Anne McCaffrey's Pern novels.[6] Before that, she wrote a children's novel titled "The Fish and the Lion," which was published as part of a case study on childhood literacy for the University of Florida.[4]

She spent middle and high school "devouring all the science fiction and fantasy novels" she could find, and her writing shifted towards the authors who influenced her most: Neil Gaiman and Connie Willis.[6] Oak was the vice president of her high school's "Writer's Guild," a club for aspiring writers. Its faculty adviser was author Linda L. Donahue (writer of The Four Redheads of the Apocalypse), who mentored Oak on writing and invited her to join a local writers' critique group.[7] While Oak learned how to critique, she struggled with finding her own voice. It wasn't until her late twenties that she felt her craft was up to par.[3]

Professional writing edit

In the winter of 2012, Oak retired from teaching computers and moved to Seattle, Washington to pursue her full-time writing career. As part of Magnolia Chapter One, she has authored several articles on the craft of writing and writing life.[5] In 2018, she became an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.[8] She is also a member of several PNW writing groups.

Her first fantasy novel, Amaskan's Blood, was published in January 2015 by a small publisher, Grey Sun Press, and was followed up in 2018 by its sequel, Amaskan's War. Oak also hinted in a recent interview at a standalone novel featuring the character Ida Warhammer from Amaskan's Blood.[9] Class-M Exile, a science fiction novella, was released in June 2015. The Eldest Silence, which takes place in the same universe as Class-M Exile, will be released in 2023. Two stories, "The Ringers" and "Ol' St. Nick", were released in a mystery/speculative fiction collection with mystery author, Maia Chance, award-winning science fiction author Janine Southard, and fantasy author Gayle Clemans. The collection, entitled Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays was accompanied by a book tour with the four authors.[3] Her short story "Q-Be" was published on October 1, 2016, in Untethered: A Magic iPhone Anthology by Cantina Publishing. The anthology is based on the book Cracked: A Magic iPhone Story which is set in Seattle, Washington and features gamers who find a magic iPhone.[10] Her short story "Mirror Me" was published on October 15, 2016, in Magic Unveiled: An Anthology by Creative Alchemy, Inc. and later as a reprint in Issue 0 of Mercedes Lackey's Fantasy Quarterly Magazine.[11] Three connected short stories from the Boahim Series were published in consecutive anthologies (Hidden Magic, Wayward Magic, and Forgotten Magic) by Magical Mayhem Press, and featured fan-favourite character, Ida, from Amaskan's Blood.

Oak's tie-in short story, "Scout's Honor", was published in 2020 as part of a Kickstarter project by PNW artist, Jeff Sturgeon, entitled The Last Cities of Earth.[12] The anthology was picked up by Kevin J. Anderson's WordFire Press and republished in January 2022.[13] The stories take place on a post-apocalyptic Earth after the eruption of Yellowstone, as seen in Jeff Sturgeon's artwork. The anthology also includes stories by Jody Lynn Nye, Kevin J. Anderson, Brenda Cooper, David Gerrold, and others. Her short story, "Weightless," was published in The Great Beyond Anthology in 2020 and focuses on the ableist focus of space travel. It was later reprinted in Soul Jar: Thirty-one Fantastical Tales by Disabled Authors.[14] Her story "Learning to Fly," was to be published in the It Has Pockets Anthology by Clockwork Dragon[15] but the anthology was cancelled when one of the co-editors died in 2021.[16] Queer Sci-Fi's Ninth Annual Flash Fiction Contest Anthology featured Oak's story "Wrinkled," in 2022, where it picked up an "Honorable Mention."[17] Her short story "Weightless" is being reprinted in the upcoming Soul Jar: Thirty-one Fantastical Tales by Disabled Authors from Forest Avenue Press.

Her "Flashback Friday," column focuses on science-fiction or fantasy novels that influenced writers, and has featured authors J. L. Forrest, Django Wexler, and best-selling author, Veronica Scott. An avid gamer since the days of the NES and GEnie, she reviews various tabletop games in her weekly column, "Monday Night Gaming."[18] She also contributed a short essay in Ursula K. Le Guin: A Brief Tribute[19]

The Boahim Series edit

In Amaskan's Blood, Book I of the Boahim Series, the heroine of the novel is an Amaskan, one of Boahim's assassins tasked with ensuring justice across the Little Dozen Kingdoms. In the land of Boahim, Amaskan's are holy assassins and feel they work for the greater good.[20] When asked about this in a recent interview, Oak said, "They truly believe they are serving justice and the greater good. They feel certain people should die because they are...murderers or rapists...Adelei learns the hard way that it's not always that simple."[21]

Over the course of the novel, she discovers that her past is a lie. She can trust no one, not even her family. Despite her training and struggles, she fights to see justice through to the end.[22] It's been called her most personal novel to date as it was heavily influenced by her own reconnection with her estranged mother. "It has a coming-of-age arc of typical epic fantasy, with the seedy underbelly of what makes a family and what makes us believe as we do."[21]

Amaskan's Blood was a 2016 EPIC Award Finalist[23] and became an Amazon bestselling fantasy on February 19, 2015, a little over a month after its release.[20] Book Digits called Amaskan's Blood "an epic fantasy filled with intrigue and layers upon layers of well-crafted secrets and lies" and gave it a grade of A.[24] It was also a 2016 Ozma Fantasy Award winner and a 2019 Readers' Favorite Bronze Award Winner for YA Epic Fantasy.[25]

The series continues with Book II, Amaskan's War, published on August 1, 2018,[26] was a finalist in the UK Wishing Shelf Book Awards for Best Young Adult Book.[27]

Class-M Exile edit

Class-M Exile is a space opera novella, also through Grey Sun Press. The novella focuses on society's fear of the unknown, and the prejudices societies carry.[28] In a discussion on the Hugo nominated Skiffy & Fanty Show, Oak said, "Some of the same diversity issues we're dealing with now across the United States are themes in this novella."[20]

The story began during a Locus Writers' Workshop when Oak was asked to think of an event that impacted her emotionally as a child. Oak picked a memory of when a new student arrived at her small Texas town middle school. In a recent interview at the Seattle Comedy Group after-party, Oak said, "She was everything not Texas...and everyone was trying to stampede away from [her] like she had the plague. It bothered me that no one wanted to know her, so of course I made her my best friend."[29]

The main character—a four-eyed, three-legged alien with a fake Texas drawl—has spent his life researching humans. "[Eerl's] never seen one, never met one, because they don't really exist anymore. And then he meets one." The story follows Eerl in his quest to find out what a fish is while defending Mel (a human) from the prejudice of the universe.[30]

Class-M Exile was a Top 100 Hot New Release on Amazon UK and ranked as an Amazon US bestseller in space opera on June 24, 2015. In an interview with the author, members of the podcast SciFi Diner said, "[Class-M Exile] really does do what [Star] Trek does, in that it functions well in social commentary. If you like science fiction that really deals with social commentary...you need to check this book out! You need to put this author on your radar."[31]

Joy to the Worlds edit

Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays was recently named a Foreword Review Book of the Year Award finalist[32] and was listed in the Seattle Times as a #1 Bestselling paperback locally.[33] The book was also a #1 Hot New Release in Amazon Sci-Fi Anthologies and a Top 100 Bestseller in Amazon Holiday Stories.

From the Worlds of Raven Oak edit

From the Worlds of Raven Oak is an art book illustrated and written by Oak, featuring scenes, characters, and settings from her various novels and short stories.

Adaptations edit

In August 2016, Class-M Exile made it to the stage as part of the Seattle Literary Festival Bibliophilia. This three-day festival, run by improv-actor, writer, and editor, Jekeva Phillips, "combines... theatre and literature into a cross-disciplinary storytelling celebration."[34] Oak began the festival by reading chapter one from Class-M Exile on opening night. The reading was followed by a re-enactment of the story by a local improv troupe, CSz Seattle.

Music career edit

While Oak continued writing novels throughout college, she began her university studies as a music composition and theory major, her primary instrument is the piano. A piano player since the age of five, she was gifted with the ability to play by ear.[6] Her ability to learn instruments quickly gained her the spot of 1st chair in her middle school's top band just two months after joining the beginning band. She was also named 1st chair in the All-Region Honor Band.[6]

She found the University of North Texas music program stiffing as she did not fit into its jazz or opera style. In 2001, she changed majors to CECS and released her first CD, "Walls, Boxes, & Jars."[35] The CD's sales donated to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network.[36] RAINN, founded by musician Tori Amos, is America's only national hotline for rape and abuse.[37] Through her lengthy support and advocacy of RAINN, Oak is listed as a corporate partner of the non-profit organization.[38]

Of Oak's music, Score! Music says: "Perfectly stunning musical compositions that, though they lack vocals, do not lack in emotional impact; it’s as though one can venture inside Oak’s being through her beautiful piano work. Think Tori Amos unplugged and without lyrics."[39] Splendid Magazine says, "...Oak transcends the damning excesses of the Lilith Fair ghetto...if it's the job of a musician to tell stories through her instruments, Raven Oak does her job exceedingly well."[40]

Her music career is currently on hiatus with an unknown release date for her second album, titled "Fight or Flight."

Awards edit

  • 2016 Ozma Fantasy Award Winner for Amaskan's Blood[41][42]
  • 2016 EPIC eBook Awards Finalist for Amaskan's Blood[23]
  • 2015 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalist for Joy to the Worlds[32][43]
  • 2018 Wishing Shelf Book Awards YA Finalist for Amaskan's War[44]
  • 2019 Readers' Favorite Bronze Book Award Winner for Amaskan's Blood[25]

Bibliography edit

Published novels edit

  1. —— (2015). Amaskan's Blood (paperback 1st ed.). Grey Sun Press. pp. 1–440. ISBN 978-0990815709.[45]
  2. —— (2018). Amaskan's War (paperback 1st ed.). Grey Sun Press. pp. 1–458. ISBN 978-0990815716.[45]
  3. —— (2015). Class-M Exile (paperback ed.). Grey Sun Press. pp. 1–102. ISBN 978-0990815747.[45]
  4. —— (2021). Ol' St. Nick (ebook ed.). Grey Sun Press. ISBN 978-1947712003.[45]
  5. —— (2021). The Ringers (ebook ed.). Grey Sun Press. ISBN 978-1947712027.[45]
  6. (2023). Dragon Springs & Other Things. Grey Sun Press. pp. 1-206. ISBN 978-1947712041 [46]
  7. (2023). Space Ships & Other Trips. Grey Sun Press. pp. 1-186. ISBN 978-1947712089 [47]

Coloring books edit

  1. —— (2018). From the Worlds of Raven Oak: Coloring Book (paperback 1st ed.). Grey Sun Press. pp. 1–56. ISBN 978-0990815792.[45]

Collections edit

  1. —— (2001). Fading. S.T. Publications. ISBN 0-9712833-0-3.
  2. ——; Chance, Maia; Gayle, Clemans; Southard, Janine A. (2015). Joy to the Worlds (paperback ed.). Grey Sun Press. pp. 1–296. ISBN 978-0990815761.[45]

Short stories edit

  1. "Q-Be" in Untethered: A Magic iPhone Anthology (October 2016, ISBN 978-1-6332702-2-0)[10]
  2. "Mirror Me" in Magic Unveiled: An Anthology (October 2016, ISBN 978-13706424-7-2)[11]
  3. "Hungry" (Stand Alone Story) (December 2016, ISBN 978-0-9908157-8-5)[45]
  4. "Alive" in Swords, Sorcery, & Self-Rescuing Damsels (April 2019, ISBN 978-19443342-6-0)[15]
  5. "Amaskan" in Hidden Magic: Magic Underground Anthology Book 1 (March 2020, ISBN 978-19491451-6-8)[48]
  6. "Pretty Poison" in Wayward Magic: Magic Underground Anthology Book 2 (April 2020, ISBN 978-19491451-7-5)[48]
  7. "Honor After All" in Forgotten Magic: Magic Underground Anthology Book 3 (May 2020, ISBN 978-19491451-8-2)[48]
  8. "Weightless" in The Great Beyond Anthology (June 2020, ISBN 979-86527319-7-7) BDL Press.
  9. "Drip" in 99 Tiny Terrors (2021). [49]
  10. "Scout's Honor" in The Last Cities of Earth Anthology (January 2022, ISBN 978-16805725-3-7) [50]
  11. "Learning to Fly" in It Has Pockets Anthology (2021).[15]
  12. "Wrinkled" in Queer Sci-Fi's 9th Annual Flash Fiction Contest Anthology (2022, ISBN 978-1955778466) [51]
  13. "Weightless" 2nd Ed. in Soul Jar (2023) [52]

Essays edit

  1. Short Essay in Ursula K. Le Guin: A Brief Tribute (August 2018) [19]

Forthcoming edit

  • ——. Amaskan's Honor (paperback 1st ed.). Grey Sun Press.
  • ——. The Eldest Silence (paperback 1st ed.). Grey Sun Press.[45]

Discography edit

Shaded Tree Records

  • Walls, Boxes, & Jars
  • Fight or Flight (unknown release date)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Amaskan's Blood". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  2. ^ "Class-M Exile". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Oak, Raven., Official Website Biography.
  4. ^ a b Book Reader Magazine., O'Hare, Vinny, Featured Interview with Raven Oak.
  5. ^ a b c d Magnolia Chapter One., Oak, Raven, "When Words Fail a Writer."
  6. ^ a b c d Official website, Official Website Blog.
  7. ^ Donahue, Linda., Official Website.
  8. ^ SFWA Bulletin, SFWA Bulletin, Oct. 2018.
  9. ^ Seattle Geekly, Episode #244, Shannon Flowers, Matt Hammond, with guest Raven Oak.
  10. ^ a b [1] Cantina Publishing
  11. ^ a b [2] Creative Alchemy, Inc.
  12. ^ Sturgeon Studios Announces Kickstarter Project.
  13. ^ [3] WordFire Press Announces The Last Cities of Earth
  14. ^ "Soul Jar". Forest Avenue Press. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c Clockwork Dragon., Anthologies.
  16. ^ French, Lee (October 5, 2021). "Our Friend, Jeffrey Cook". Clockwork Dragon. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  17. ^ "Clarity". www.otherworldsink.com. July 27, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  18. ^ [4] The Conspiracy, Number 25
  19. ^ a b [5] Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  20. ^ a b c The Skiffy & Fanty Show, Episode 32, Shaun Duke, with guest Raven Oak.
  21. ^ a b Writer 2.0 with A.C. Fuller, Episode 33, A.C. Fuller, with guest Raven Oak.
  22. ^ Amaskan's Blood, Goodreads.
  23. ^ a b "Amaskan's Blood an EPIC Award Finalist". Raven Oak Official Website. 2016.
  24. ^ Book Digits, Review of Amaskan's Blood.
  25. ^ a b Amaskan's Blood, 2019 Readers' Favorite Book Award Winners.
  26. ^ Amaskan's War, Goodreads.
  27. ^ Writer Imperfect, Episode 19, Twitch TV.
  28. ^ The Oak Wheel., Martin, Jeff. Interview with Author Raven Oak.
  29. ^ Seattle Comedy Group, After Party #23., Interview with Author Raven Oak.
  30. ^ Class-M Exile., Goodreads.
  31. ^ SciFi Diner Podcast #255., Interview with Author Raven Oak.
  32. ^ a b "Joy to the Worlds is a 2015 Foreword Book of the Year Award finalist". Foreword Book Reviews. 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  33. ^ The Promise Leads Hardback Sales, The Seattle Times, Staff.
  34. ^ Constant, Paul., Seattle Weekly, Aug. 8, 2016.
  35. ^ Walls, Boxes, & Jars, iTunes. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  36. ^ Galaris, "New CD to Donate to RAINN".
  37. ^ https://www.rainn.org/get-help/national-sexual-assault-hotline.
  38. ^ Information on RAINN., RAINN Official Website.
  39. ^ , Jeanne. October 2002.
  40. ^ , Matthew Pollesel. February 22, 2002.
  41. ^ "Ozma Award Winner! - Raven Oak". Raven Oak. April 6, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  42. ^ Chanticleer (April 6, 2017). "Ozma Awards for Fantasy Fiction FIRST PLACE Category Winners 2016". Chanticleer Book Reviews. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  43. ^ Book of the Year Anthology Finalists, Foreword Reviews, Staff.
  44. ^ Wishing Shelf Book Awards (March 1, 2019). "Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2018 Finalists". Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i Grey Sun Press., Bibliography.
  46. ^ Oak, Raven (2023). Dragon Springs & Other Things. Seattle, WA: Grey Sun Press. ISBN 978-1947712041.
  47. ^ Oak, Raven (2023). Space Ships & Other Trips. Seattle, WA: Grey Sun Press. ISBN 978-1947712089.
  48. ^ a b c Magical Mayhem Press.
  49. ^ [6] Pulse Publishing
  50. ^ [7] WordFire Press
  51. ^ [8] OWI
  52. ^ [9] Forest Avenue Press

External links edit

December 15, 2023
raven, born, december, 1977, riverside, california, american, author, artist, whose, written, works, range, from, science, fiction, fantasy, cross, genre, most, known, bestselling, epic, fantasy, amaskan, blood, space, operas, class, exile, eldest, silence, wr. Raven Oak born December 21 1977 in Riverside California is an American author and artist whose written works range from science fiction amp fantasy to cross genre She is most known for her bestselling epic fantasy Amaskan s Blood 1 and her space operas Class M Exile 2 and The Eldest Silence She wrote her first novel a 320 page fantasy work at age twelve 3 She is a member of the LGBTQ community and is disabled from both a birth defect in the lower spine and an auto immune disease She is also a pianist and songwriter whose musical works deal with the survival side of life Currently residing in Seattle Washington Oak is currently focusing on writing and art full time Raven OakOak in 2013Born 1977 12 21 December 21 1977 age 45 Riverside California U S OccupationWriter musicianEducationB S 2001 M S 2005Alma materUniversity of North TexasPeriod2000s presentGenreFantasy science fiction dark fantasySpouseErik Carson 1996 present Websiteravenoak wbr net Contents 1 Early life 2 Writing career 2 1 Early writings 2 2 Professional writing 2 2 1 The Boahim Series 2 2 2 Class M Exile 2 2 3 Joy to the Worlds 2 2 4 From the Worlds of Raven Oak 2 3 Adaptations 3 Music career 4 Awards 5 Bibliography 5 1 Published novels 5 2 Coloring books 5 3 Collections 5 4 Short stories 5 5 Essays 5 6 Forthcoming 6 Discography 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksEarly life editOak grew up in many places around the U S including California Michigan Oklahoma Florida and Texas where she eventually attended Richland College and later the University of North Texas as a music major A military child her family moved frequently until they settled in Texas in 1989 Her maternal grandmother was a public school teacher in California and under her tutelage Oak was reading and writing at age three 4 Oak knew since the age of five that she wanted to be a writer 5 a wish that never changed through the years They said I could be anything do anything So I did 5 After high school the rest of the family moved out of state but Oak remained in North Texas to attend college and received both her Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Science Degree in CECS from UNT 3 Writing career editEarly writings edit Oak has written stories for as long as she can remember and before that she was telling them 5 She wrote her first novel The Cry of the Dragon at age twelve The novel was heavily influenced by Anne McCaffrey s Pern novels 6 Before that she wrote a children s novel titled The Fish and the Lion which was published as part of a case study on childhood literacy for the University of Florida 4 She spent middle and high school devouring all the science fiction and fantasy novels she could find and her writing shifted towards the authors who influenced her most Neil Gaiman and Connie Willis 6 Oak was the vice president of her high school s Writer s Guild a club for aspiring writers Its faculty adviser was author Linda L Donahue writer of The Four Redheads of the Apocalypse who mentored Oak on writing and invited her to join a local writers critique group 7 While Oak learned how to critique she struggled with finding her own voice It wasn t until her late twenties that she felt her craft was up to par 3 Professional writing edit In the winter of 2012 Oak retired from teaching computers and moved to Seattle Washington to pursue her full time writing career As part of Magnolia Chapter One she has authored several articles on the craft of writing and writing life 5 In 2018 she became an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America 8 She is also a member of several PNW writing groups Her first fantasy novel Amaskan s Blood was published in January 2015 by a small publisher Grey Sun Press and was followed up in 2018 by its sequel Amaskan s War Oak also hinted in a recent interview at a standalone novel featuring the character Ida Warhammer from Amaskan s Blood 9 Class M Exile a science fiction novella was released in June 2015 The Eldest Silence which takes place in the same universe as Class M Exile will be released in 2023 Two stories The Ringers and Ol St Nick were released in a mystery speculative fiction collection with mystery author Maia Chance award winning science fiction author Janine Southard and fantasy author Gayle Clemans The collection entitled Joy to the Worlds Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays was accompanied by a book tour with the four authors 3 Her short story Q Be was published on October 1 2016 in Untethered A Magic iPhone Anthology by Cantina Publishing The anthology is based on the book Cracked A Magic iPhone Story which is set in Seattle Washington and features gamers who find a magic iPhone 10 Her short story Mirror Me was published on October 15 2016 in Magic Unveiled An Anthology by Creative Alchemy Inc and later as a reprint in Issue 0 of Mercedes Lackey s Fantasy Quarterly Magazine 11 Three connected short stories from the Boahim Series were published in consecutive anthologies Hidden Magic Wayward Magic and Forgotten Magic by Magical Mayhem Press and featured fan favourite character Ida from Amaskan s Blood Oak s tie in short story Scout s Honor was published in 2020 as part of a Kickstarter project by PNW artist Jeff Sturgeon entitled The Last Cities of Earth 12 The anthology was picked up by Kevin J Anderson s WordFire Press and republished in January 2022 13 The stories take place on a post apocalyptic Earth after the eruption of Yellowstone as seen in Jeff Sturgeon s artwork The anthology also includes stories by Jody Lynn Nye Kevin J Anderson Brenda Cooper David Gerrold and others Her short story Weightless was published in The Great Beyond Anthology in 2020 and focuses on the ableist focus of space travel It was later reprinted in Soul Jar Thirty one Fantastical Tales by Disabled Authors 14 Her story Learning to Fly was to be published in the It Has Pockets Anthology by Clockwork Dragon 15 but the anthology was cancelled when one of the co editors died in 2021 16 Queer Sci Fi s Ninth Annual Flash Fiction Contest Anthology featured Oak s story Wrinkled in 2022 where it picked up an Honorable Mention 17 Her short story Weightless is being reprinted in the upcoming Soul Jar Thirty one Fantastical Tales by Disabled Authors from Forest Avenue Press Her Flashback Friday column focuses on science fiction or fantasy novels that influenced writers and has featured authors J L Forrest Django Wexler and best selling author Veronica Scott An avid gamer since the days of the NES and GEnie she reviews various tabletop games in her weekly column Monday Night Gaming 18 She also contributed a short essay in Ursula K Le Guin A Brief Tribute 19 The Boahim Series edit In Amaskan s Blood Book I of the Boahim Series the heroine of the novel is an Amaskan one of Boahim s assassins tasked with ensuring justice across the Little Dozen Kingdoms In the land of Boahim Amaskan s are holy assassins and feel they work for the greater good 20 When asked about this in a recent interview Oak said They truly believe they are serving justice and the greater good They feel certain people should die because they are murderers or rapists Adelei learns the hard way that it s not always that simple 21 Over the course of the novel she discovers that her past is a lie She can trust no one not even her family Despite her training and struggles she fights to see justice through to the end 22 It s been called her most personal novel to date as it was heavily influenced by her own reconnection with her estranged mother It has a coming of age arc of typical epic fantasy with the seedy underbelly of what makes a family and what makes us believe as we do 21 Amaskan s Blood was a 2016 EPIC Award Finalist 23 and became an Amazon bestselling fantasy on February 19 2015 a little over a month after its release 20 Book Digits called Amaskan s Blood an epic fantasy filled with intrigue and layers upon layers of well crafted secrets and lies and gave it a grade of A 24 It was also a 2016 Ozma Fantasy Award winner and a 2019 Readers Favorite Bronze Award Winner for YA Epic Fantasy 25 The series continues with Book II Amaskan s War published on August 1 2018 26 was a finalist in the UK Wishing Shelf Book Awards for Best Young Adult Book 27 Class M Exile edit Class M Exile is a space opera novella also through Grey Sun Press The novella focuses on society s fear of the unknown and the prejudices societies carry 28 In a discussion on the Hugo nominated Skiffy amp Fanty Show Oak said Some of the same diversity issues we re dealing with now across the United States are themes in this novella 20 The story began during a Locus Writers Workshop when Oak was asked to think of an event that impacted her emotionally as a child Oak picked a memory of when a new student arrived at her small Texas town middle school In a recent interview at the Seattle Comedy Group after party Oak said She was everything not Texas and everyone was trying to stampede away from her like she had the plague It bothered me that no one wanted to know her so of course I made her my best friend 29 The main character a four eyed three legged alien with a fake Texas drawl has spent his life researching humans Eerl s never seen one never met one because they don t really exist anymore And then he meets one The story follows Eerl in his quest to find out what a fish is while defending Mel a human from the prejudice of the universe 30 Class M Exile was a Top 100 Hot New Release on Amazon UK and ranked as an Amazon US bestseller in space opera on June 24 2015 In an interview with the author members of the podcast SciFi Diner said Class M Exile really does do what Star Trek does in that it functions well in social commentary If you like science fiction that really deals with social commentary you need to check this book out You need to put this author on your radar 31 Joy to the Worlds edit Joy to the Worlds Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays was recently named a Foreword Review Book of the Year Award finalist 32 and was listed in the Seattle Times as a 1 Bestselling paperback locally 33 The book was also a 1 Hot New Release in Amazon Sci Fi Anthologies and a Top 100 Bestseller in Amazon Holiday Stories From the Worlds of Raven Oak edit From the Worlds of Raven Oak is an art book illustrated and written by Oak featuring scenes characters and settings from her various novels and short stories Adaptations edit In August 2016 Class M Exile made it to the stage as part of the Seattle Literary Festival Bibliophilia This three day festival run by improv actor writer and editor Jekeva Phillips combines theatre and literature into a cross disciplinary storytelling celebration 34 Oak began the festival by reading chapter one from Class M Exile on opening night The reading was followed by a re enactment of the story by a local improv troupe CSz Seattle Music career editWhile Oak continued writing novels throughout college she began her university studies as a music composition and theory major her primary instrument is the piano A piano player since the age of five she was gifted with the ability to play by ear 6 Her ability to learn instruments quickly gained her the spot of 1st chair in her middle school s top band just two months after joining the beginning band She was also named 1st chair in the All Region Honor Band 6 She found the University of North Texas music program stiffing as she did not fit into its jazz or opera style In 2001 she changed majors to CECS and released her first CD Walls Boxes amp Jars 35 The CD s sales donated to RAINN the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network 36 RAINN founded by musician Tori Amos is America s only national hotline for rape and abuse 37 Through her lengthy support and advocacy of RAINN Oak is listed as a corporate partner of the non profit organization 38 Of Oak s music Score Music says Perfectly stunning musical compositions that though they lack vocals do not lack in emotional impact it s as though one can venture inside Oak s being through her beautiful piano work Think Tori Amos unplugged and without lyrics 39 Splendid Magazine says Oak transcends the damning excesses of the Lilith Fair ghetto if it s the job of a musician to tell stories through her instruments Raven Oak does her job exceedingly well 40 Her music career is currently on hiatus with an unknown release date for her second album titled Fight or Flight Awards edit2016 Ozma Fantasy Award Winner for Amaskan s Blood 41 42 2016 EPIC eBook Awards Finalist for Amaskan s Blood 23 2015 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalist for Joy to the Worlds 32 43 2018 Wishing Shelf Book Awards YA Finalist for Amaskan s War 44 2019 Readers Favorite Bronze Book Award Winner for Amaskan s Blood 25 Bibliography editPublished novels edit 2015 Amaskan s Blood paperback 1st ed Grey Sun Press pp 1 440 ISBN 978 0990815709 45 2018 Amaskan s War paperback 1st ed Grey Sun Press pp 1 458 ISBN 978 0990815716 45 2015 Class M Exile paperback ed Grey Sun Press pp 1 102 ISBN 978 0990815747 45 2021 Ol St Nick ebook ed Grey Sun Press ISBN 978 1947712003 45 2021 The Ringers ebook ed Grey Sun Press ISBN 978 1947712027 45 2023 Dragon Springs amp Other Things Grey Sun Press pp 1 206 ISBN 978 1947712041 46 2023 Space Ships amp Other Trips Grey Sun Press pp 1 186 ISBN 978 1947712089 47 Coloring books edit 2018 From the Worlds of Raven Oak Coloring Book paperback 1st ed Grey Sun Press pp 1 56 ISBN 978 0990815792 45 Collections edit 2001 Fading S T Publications ISBN 0 9712833 0 3 Chance Maia Gayle Clemans Southard Janine A 2015 Joy to the Worlds paperback ed Grey Sun Press pp 1 296 ISBN 978 0990815761 45 Short stories edit Q Be in Untethered A Magic iPhone Anthology October 2016 ISBN 978 1 6332702 2 0 10 Mirror Me in Magic Unveiled An Anthology October 2016 ISBN 978 13706424 7 2 11 Hungry Stand Alone Story December 2016 ISBN 978 0 9908157 8 5 45 Alive in Swords Sorcery amp Self Rescuing Damsels April 2019 ISBN 978 19443342 6 0 15 Amaskan in Hidden Magic Magic Underground Anthology Book 1 March 2020 ISBN 978 19491451 6 8 48 Pretty Poison in Wayward Magic Magic Underground Anthology Book 2 April 2020 ISBN 978 19491451 7 5 48 Honor After All in Forgotten Magic Magic Underground Anthology Book 3 May 2020 ISBN 978 19491451 8 2 48 Weightless in The Great Beyond Anthology June 2020 ISBN 979 86527319 7 7 BDL Press Drip in 99 Tiny Terrors 2021 49 Scout s Honor in The Last Cities of Earth Anthology January 2022 ISBN 978 16805725 3 7 50 Learning to Fly in It Has Pockets Anthology 2021 15 Wrinkled in Queer Sci Fi s 9th Annual Flash Fiction Contest Anthology 2022 ISBN 978 1955778466 51 Weightless 2nd Ed in Soul Jar 2023 52 Essays edit Short Essay in Ursula K Le Guin A Brief Tribute August 2018 19 Forthcoming edit Amaskan s Honor paperback 1st ed Grey Sun Press The Eldest Silence paperback 1st ed Grey Sun Press 45 Discography editShaded Tree Records Walls Boxes amp Jars Fight or Flight unknown release date See also edit nbsp Speculative fiction portalList of fantasy authors List of science fiction authorsReferences edit Amaskan s Blood Amazon com Retrieved January 19 2015 Class M Exile Amazon com Retrieved March 20 2015 a b c d Oak Raven Official Website Biography a b Book Reader Magazine O Hare Vinny Featured Interview with Raven Oak a b c d Magnolia Chapter One Oak Raven When Words Fail a Writer a b c d Official website Official Website Blog Donahue Linda Official Website SFWA Bulletin SFWA Bulletin Oct 2018 Seattle Geekly Episode 244 Shannon Flowers Matt Hammond with guest Raven Oak a b 1 Cantina Publishing a b 2 Creative Alchemy Inc Sturgeon Studios Announces Kickstarter Project 3 WordFire Press Announces The Last Cities of Earth Soul Jar Forest Avenue Press Retrieved May 6 2023 a b c Clockwork Dragon Anthologies French Lee October 5 2021 Our Friend Jeffrey Cook Clockwork Dragon Retrieved May 6 2023 Clarity www otherworldsink com July 27 2022 Retrieved May 6 2023 4 The Conspiracy Number 25 a b 5 Internet Speculative Fiction Database a b c The Skiffy amp Fanty Show Episode 32 Shaun Duke with guest Raven Oak a b Writer 2 0 with A C Fuller Episode 33 A C Fuller with guest Raven Oak Amaskan s Blood Goodreads a b Amaskan s Blood an EPIC Award Finalist Raven Oak Official Website 2016 Book Digits Review of Amaskan s Blood a b Amaskan s Blood 2019 Readers Favorite Book Award Winners Amaskan s War Goodreads Writer Imperfect Episode 19 Twitch TV The Oak Wheel Martin Jeff Interview with Author Raven Oak Seattle Comedy Group After Party 23 Interview with Author Raven Oak Class M Exile Goodreads SciFi Diner Podcast 255 Interview with Author Raven Oak a b Joy to the Worlds is a 2015 Foreword Book of the Year Award finalist Foreword Book Reviews 2015 Retrieved September 27 2017 The Promise Leads Hardback Sales The Seattle Times Staff Constant Paul Seattle Weekly Aug 8 2016 Walls Boxes amp Jars iTunes Retrieved 19 January 2015 Galaris New CD to Donate to RAINN https www rainn org get help national sexual assault hotline Information on RAINN RAINN Official Website Score Music Magazine Jeanne October 2002 Splendid E Zine Matthew Pollesel February 22 2002 Ozma Award Winner Raven Oak Raven Oak April 6 2017 Retrieved June 20 2017 Chanticleer April 6 2017 Ozma Awards for Fantasy Fiction FIRST PLACE Category Winners 2016 Chanticleer Book Reviews Retrieved June 20 2017 Book of the Year Anthology Finalists Foreword Reviews Staff Wishing Shelf Book Awards March 1 2019 Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2018 Finalists Wishing Shelf Book Awards Retrieved March 13 2019 a b c d e f g h i Grey Sun Press Bibliography Oak Raven 2023 Dragon Springs amp Other Things Seattle WA Grey Sun Press ISBN 978 1947712041 Oak Raven 2023 Space Ships amp Other Trips Seattle WA Grey Sun Press ISBN 978 1947712089 a b c Magical Mayhem Press 6 Pulse Publishing 7 WordFire Press 8 OWI 9 Forest Avenue PressExternal links editOfficial site Raven Oak at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database Raven Oak at Library of Congress with 1 library catalog records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raven Oak amp oldid 1153950423, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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