Alis A. Rasmussen | |
---|---|
Born | 1958 (age 66–67) |
Pen name | Kate Elliott |
Occupation | Writer |
Nationality | American |
Period | 1980s–present |
Genre | Fantasy, science fiction |
Spouse | Jay Silverstein |
Kate Elliott is the pen name of American fantasy and science fiction writer Alis A. Rasmussen (born 1958). [1]
Although Rasmussen's first novels The Labyrinth Gate (1988) and The Highroad (1990) (a science fiction trilogy) failed to become bestsellers, additional publishers liked her manuscripts. However, they wanted a fresh name unconnected with the sales figures of the previous books. Starting in 1992 under the new name of Kate Elliott, her sales have flourished. [2] The Crown of Stars series has been featured in the Science Fiction Book Club.
Elliott published the first of her Jaran series in 1992, although she began the first draft in 1980. Heather Massey's review of Jaran describes it as "a science fiction romance classic", [3] while Todd Richmond in an SF Site review calls the series "an epic masterpiece". [4] The Highroad (as Alis Rasmussen) trilogy is set in the same universe as Jaran as a prequel. [5]
The 1996 collaboration between Elliott, Melanie Rawn, and Jennifer Roberson on The Golden Key was coordinated primarily via fax machine. [6]
In 2020, Elliott published Unconquerable Sun, the first novel in a gender-bending space opera trilogy based on Alexander the Great. [7]
A native of Junction City, Oregon, Rasmussen moved to Oakland, California to attend Mills College. There she became active in the Society for Creative Anachronism where she pursued medieval sword fighting.
Rasmussen, her archaeologist husband Jay Silverstein, and their three children live in Hawaii. [8] [9]