Amanda Downum is an American fantasy author best known for herNecromancer Chronicles trilogy:The Drowning City (2009),The Bone Palace (2010), andKingdoms of Dust (2012). For these novels, which explore of LGBT topics and characters, she was nominated for theGaylactic Spectrum Award,David Gemmell Award, and James Tiptree, Jr. Award.[1] Downum’s books consist of themes relating toidentity,gender roles andsexuality,death,secrets andsocial stratification.[2]
Amanda Downum was born on July 15, 1979 into a middle-class family in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[3] Downum's parents would read Downum fantasy/science fiction authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Ursula K. Le Guin and, Madeleine L'Engle.[4] As Downum grew older, she formed aGoth persona from reading novels such asThe Hobbit andPrince Caspian[5] and reading H. P. Lovecraft's horror novels.[4] These authors/books have influenced Downum's genre, fantasy fiction, since her early childhood.[4]
Downum wanted to be a writer at the age of six[6] and her first attempt at writing a novel was in high school.[7] Many of her present characters and events were created/drawn from her early unpublished writings and/or childhood memories.[7] Downum graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in English Literature and a minor in German.[4] During her time at college, she considered being a writer again when she found an online writing workshop and realized that she could drastically improve her writing.[6]
Over the course of her writing career, Amanda Downum has been inspired by "books, movies, music, the news, boring road trips, and dreams".[8] Her three favorite contemporary authors and biggest influences areBarbara Hambly,Elizabeth Bear, andCaitlin R. Kiernan.[9] According to Downum, her focus in fantasy should primarily be credited to her mother, who read the young Downum numerous fantasy novels, including Tolkien, Lewis, Le Guin, and L'Engle.[10] Later on in her life,Hurricane Katrina coupled with her experiences living in Asia inspired her to writeThe Drowning City, book one in herNecromancer Chronicles trilogy.[8]The Hobbit, and particularly the character Sauron, known and referred to as the Necromancer, captivated her interest in the darker side of fantasy characters and helped inspire herNecromancer Chronicles.[8]
Amanda Downum resides in a home near Austin, Texas.[11] She has traveled toIndonesia andMicronesia and has spent time in Missouri, Arizona, California, and Colorado.[12] Although Downum does not speak often on politics or religion in any of her blogs or interviews, some of the organizations and associations that she supports includeThe National Association to Protect Children,RAINN,Lambda Legal, andAmnesty International.[13] Among other things, Downum creates jewelry for her brand Still So Strange Studios;[13] her interests also include rock climbing[11] and cooking.[14]
Here's a list of Amanda Downum's short stories:[15]
Amanda Downum first received recognition for her novel,The Drowning City, when it was shortlisted for the 2009David Gemmell Morning Star Award.[16]The Drowning City also received a nomination the following year, in 2010, for the David Gemmell Legend Award.[17] In December 2010, Downum's second novel in theNecromancer Chronicles,The Bone Palace, was shortlisted for the James Tiptree, Jr. Award.[18] Downum's inclusion of significant positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender characters, themes, and issues inThe Bone Palace also resulted in her 2011 nomination for theGaylactic Spectrum Award.[19]
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