Janet Lee Carey

Last updated

Janet Lee Carey
Born (1954-01-11) January 11, 1954 (age 70)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationWriter, educator
NationalityAmerican
GenreChildren's literature, fantasy
Notable works"Dragon’s Keep", "Dragonswood", Wenny Has Wings, The Beast of Noor, The Dragons of Noor
Website
janetleecarey.com

Janet Lee Carey (born January 11, 1954) [1] [2] [3] is an American college professor who writes fantasy fiction for children and young adults. Her novels The Dragons of Noor (2010) won a Teens Read Too Gold Star Award for Excellence, Dragon's Keep (2007) won an ALA Best Books for Young adults, and Wenny Has Wings (2002) won the Mark Twain Award (2005). [4]

Contents

Personal life and background

Carey was born in New York [2] and was raised in Mill Valley, California. Carey moved to Seattle, Washington to be closer to her mother and stepfather, where she currently lives at Seattle, Washington. Carey is a very imaginative person and she finds herself daydreaming continuously throughout the day, which allows her to get into her "fantasy land" while writing. She considers herself a homebody who enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends. [5]

Many of Carey's novels involve an ordinary child doing heroic deeds. [6] She believes all children need courage in order to develop into successful adults. Carey says courage requires "a sense of purpose, a belief that what I do matters, a willingness to sacrifice, and the strength to fail and keep going." [6] Her novels show children and teens overcoming struggles and obstacles which eventually influence their development and growth as individuals. [6]

Career

Janet Lee Carey is a successful children's literature author as well as a teacher. Her desire to become a writer began at a very young age reading her favorite authors seated high up in the branches of a tree. Although at first she was unable to progress from inspiration to publication, she eventually became a successful writer through her dedication, love of story, and passion for writing. [5] Carey faced years of rejection; however, she kept sending her stories out. She believes that the joys far outweigh the struggles with writing. [5]

She has taught at Lake Washington Technical college, Bellevue college, and she leads professional seminars and workshops designed for children and adults. [7] Carey is involved in many groups including her critique group, The Diviners, and arts group, Artemis. The Diviners is a dynamic critique group which helped her progress as a writer, through the revision and analysis of her work. Artemis is a support group for artists, made up of writers, photographers, painters, collage artists, sculptures and musicians. They meet to openly discuss their goals and successes as well as the difficulties and hardships of being an artist. [5] She is also involved with readergirlz and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Readergirlz is an online blog which supports reading for teenage girls. [7] SCBWI is a non-profit organization specifically for those involved with children and young adult literature. [8] Along with her interest in working with other writers, she is also a strong supporter of charitable organizations and environmental awareness. Carey demonstrates her support by linking each of her novels to a charitable organization, hoping to empower readers to make a difference in the world. [5]

Between finding time for her group work and writing, Carey has also dedicated much of her time to hosting writing retreats for future authors. She tours across the United States and overseas presenting at schools and children's book festivals and conferences. [5]

Influences

Carey's career as a writer was influenced by many different authors, books, her imagination, and personal struggles. Authors such as Ursula K. Le Guin, Juliet Marillier, Patricia A. McKillip, Shannon Hale, Kristin Cashore and many more constantly inspired her as a writer. The fantasy stories she read as a child "was the reason [she] wanted to grow up to be a writer." She was also inspired by Grimms' Fairy Tales, and stories involving myths and fantasies. Carey always had a wild imagination. As a child she believed that trees whispered to her; telling her stories in a language she couldn't understand. Her imagination helps her create vivid fantasy novels. Cary's determination to understand "things that haunt [her] and keep [her] awake at night," also influenced her writing. She began writing Stealing Death when her mother was dying and she addresses the question "Why do we have to die" throughout the novel. [5]

Notable works

Dragon's Keep

Rosalind is born with an unsightly dragon claw. Those who see the claw do not live long after to tell the story. Rosalind is faced with the realization that she will never find love or marry. She is captured by the Dragon Lord and her adventures begin. [2]

Dragonswood

Wilde Island is in a difficult situation, with the trust between the fairies, dragons and humans, being tested with the death of the king. The island is looking for a hero and young Tess, a blacksmith's daughter, is thrown into the crossfire. [2]

In The Time of Dragon Moon

When a hidden killer slays the royal Pendragon heir, the murder is made to look like an accident, but the queen's healer, Uma, and her ally, Jackrun, sense the darker truth. Together, they must use their combined powers to outwit a secret plot to overthrow the Pendragon throne. But are they strong enough to overcome a murderer aided by prophecy and cloaked in magic? A perfectly crafted story combining medieval history, mythology, and fantasy. "This is a must-purchase for libraries owning the earlier installments and a great choice for where teen fantasy is popular." –School Library Journal [2]

Stealing Death

A fantasy novel based around a young boy named Kipp who has lost everything of value to him. He is left in charge of his younger sister after the rest of his family was killed in a fire. He is determined to keep those he holds close to him away from Death's soul sack. [2]

Wenny Has Wings

Will North loses his sister Wenny in a terrible accident. Will writes a series of letters to his sister in heaven. He believes her spirit is in a good place because of the vision he had during his Near Death Experience, but is he brave enough to tell his mother and father what he saw? "Wenny Has Wings is a powerful, emotional, highly recommended story about learning to cope with grief and loss." --Children’s Bookwatch –Midwest Book Review

"A heartrending glimpse into what happens in a family when a child dies."—Kirkus Reviews

Molly's Fire

This novel is about a young girl who is in denial about the fact that her father has died in World War II, until she is given her father's watch. Molly risks it all to find out the truth she is trying to avoid. [2]

The Double Life of Zoe Flynn

Zoe's family is thrown into troubled times, with her father losing his job and their rental house suddenly being sold. They are forced to move to find work and meanwhile live in the family van. To escape the sad reality, Zoe creates a "double life". It is a story of courage and hardships. [2]

The Beast of Noor

"Determined to break the Shriker's curse, Miles steals a spell from his mentor, setting in motion a complex weave of force and power well beyond this world, and drawing Miles into a journey that will require all his courage, and from which only Hanna and her ingenuity can save him. One after the other, the brash, well-intentioned hero and the plucky young heroine enter a realm of betrayal, honor, destiny, and otherworldly justice. Plot twists combine with magic, suspense, legend, challenge, and redemption. [This] will appeal most to dedicated fantasy readers." --VOYA

The Dragons of Noor

Trouble is stirring in the world of Noor. After centuries-long exile, the dragons are uneasy and about to return. A strange wind has been blowing, sweeping children up into the sky. Among the missing is Miles's and Hanna's younger brother. They go after him and find themselves fighting alongside the dragons in a life- altering revolution. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ursula K. Le Guin</span> American fantasy and science fiction author (1929–2018)

Ursula Kroeber Le Guin was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe, and the Earthsea fantasy series. She was first published in 1959, and her literary career spanned nearly sixty years, producing more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories, in addition to poetry, literary criticism, translations, and children's books. Frequently described as an author of science fiction, Le Guin has also been called a "major voice in American Letters". Le Guin said she would prefer to be known as an "American novelist".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne McCaffrey</span> Irish science fiction writer (1926–2011)

Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction and the first to win a Nebula Award. Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madeleine L'Engle</span> American writer (1918–2007)

Madeleine L'Engle was an American writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels: A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time. Her works reflect both her Christian faith and her strong interest in modern science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Applegate</span> American fiction writer

Katherine Alice Applegate, known professionally as K. A. Applegate, is an American young adult and children's fiction writer, best known as the author of the Animorphs, Remnants, and Everworld book series. She won the 2013 Newbery Medal for her 2012 children's novel The One and Only Ivan. Applegate's most popular books are science fiction, fantasy, and adventure novels. She won the Best New Children's Book Series Award in 1997 in Publishers Weekly. Her book Home of the Brave has won several awards. She also wrote a chapter book series in 2008–09 called Roscoe Riley Rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacqueline Carey</span> American fiction writer

Jacqueline A. Carey is an American writer, primarily of fantasy fiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patricia Wrede</span> American author

Patricia Collins Wrede is an American author of fantasy literature. She is known for her Enchanted Forest Chronicles series for young adults, which was voted number 84 in NPR's 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanith Lee</span> British science fiction and fantasy writer (1947 – 2015)

Tanith Lee was a British science fiction and fantasy writer. She wrote more than 90 novels and 300 short stories, and was the winner of multiple World Fantasy Society Derleth Awards, the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Horror. She also wrote a children's picture book, and many poems. She wrote two episodes of the BBC science fiction series Blake's 7. She was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award best novel award, for her book Death's Master (1980).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nnedi Okorafor</span> Nigerian-American writer of science fiction and fantasy

Nnedimma Nkemdili "Nnedi" Okorafor is a Nigerian American writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. She is best known for her Binti Series and her novels Who Fears Death, Zahrah the Windseeker, Akata Witch, Akata Warrior, Lagoon and Remote Control. She has also written for comics and film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Gratz</span> American writer

Alan Michael Gratz is the author of 19 novels for young adults including Prisoner B-3087, Code of Honor, Grenade, Something Rotten, Ground Zero and Refugee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libba Bray</span> American writer

Martha Elizabeth "Libba" Bray is an American writer of young adult novels including the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Going Bovine, and The Diviners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Simpson Nikakis</span> Australian fantasy author, writer and poet

Karen Simpson Nikakis, known commonly as K. S. Nikakis, is an Australian fantasy author, writer and poet who lives at Melton, who has written the fantasy novel The Whisper of Leaves (2007). She was nominated for an Aurealis Awards twice in 2020.

Janni Lee Simner is an American author of fantasy and adventure novels and short stories. She writes primarily for young adults as teenagers and upper elementary children.

Cinda Williams Chima is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult fantasy, best known for The Heir Chronicles, The Seven Realms and The Shattered Realm series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Day George</span> American author (born 1976)

Jessica Day George is an American author who lives in Utah. She is a New York Times bestselling author of Young Adult fantasy novels, and she received the 2007 Whitney Award for Best Book by a New Author for Dragon Slippers. Having attended Brigham Young University (BYU), George is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Darcy S. Pattison is an American writer of fiction and nonfiction children’s literature, a blogger, writing teacher, and indie publisher. Her books have been translated into nine languages. Although she is best known for her work in children’s literature, she is also a writing teacher traveling across the nation presenting her Novel Revision Retreat. She has been featured as a writer and writing teacher in prestigious publications such as Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies, and 2012 Writer's Market. Pattison is also an independent publisher of ebooks for adults in the educational market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Knudsen</span> American writer

Michelle Knudsen is a New York Times best-selling American children's author. She has written 50 books for children, including the multiple-award-winning Library Lion, the Trelian middle grade fantasy trilogy, and the Evil Librarian young adult horror/comedy/romance trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raven Oak</span> American author (born 1977)

Raven Oak 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, and her space operas, Class-M Exile and The Eldest Silence. She wrote her first novel, a 320-page fantasy work at age twelve. 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.

Kelly Barnhill is an American author of children's literature, fantasy, and science fiction. Her novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon was awarded the 2017 Newbery Medal. Kirkus Reviews named When Women Were Dragons one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of 2022.

<i>Children of Blood and Bone</i> 2018 young adult fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone is a 2018 young adult fantasy novel by Nigerian-American novelist Tomi Adeyemi. The book, Adeyemi's debut novel and the first book in a planned trilogy, follows heroine Zélie Adebola as she attempts to restore magic to the kingdom of Orïsha, following the ruling class kosidáns' brutal suppression of the class of magic practitioners Zélie belongs to, the maji.

Sue Alexander was an American writer of children's literature. She authored 26 books for children as well as "scores of stories" for newspapers and magazines. She was also a children's book reviewer for the Los Angeles Times. She was a charter member and advisory board member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, which established two awards in her name in recognition of her efforts to educate and mentor aspiring writers.

References

  1. ↑ "Carey, Janet Lee". Library of Congress Authorities. Retrieved August 17, 2014. Citing Cataloging in Publication data.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Janet Lee Carey". Library Thing (librarything.com). Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Library Thing". Library Thing. Retrieved November 9, 2011.[ clarification needed ]
  4. ↑ "Simon & Schuster". Simon & Schuster, Inc. October 21, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2011.[ page needed ]
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Norelle Done (September 13, 2011). "Seattle Author: An Imagination Gone Wild". Seattle Wrote (seattlewrote.com). Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 Janet Lee Carey. "The Child Hero" Archived November 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Published in Chinook and in Medium, Journal of the Washington Library Media Association. Dates unknown. Reprint "Welcome to the Articles Page". Janet Lee Carey (janetleecarey.com). Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Rosedog". Rose Dog Publishing Inc. 1999–2011. Archived from the original on October 27, 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  8. ↑ "SCBWI". Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.