Sharon Lee (writer)

Last updated
Sharon Lee
BornSharon Lee Backof
(1952-09-11) September 11, 1952 (age 70)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
OccupationWriter
Alma mater University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Period1979–present
Genre Fantasy, science fiction
Spouse Steve Miller
Website
sharonleewriter.com

Sharon Lee (born September 11, 1952) is an American science fiction, fantasy and mystery author who lived in Winslow, Maine from 1988-2018 before moving to nearby Waterville. She is the co-author (with Steve Miller) of the Liaden universe novels and stories, [1] as well as other works, and individually the author of several mystery and fantasy novels.

Contents

Background

Born Sharon Lee Backof in Baltimore, Maryland, Lee graduated from Parkville Senior High School in 1970, and attended University of Maryland, Baltimore County during the late 1970s while employed as Administrative Aide to the Dean of the School of Social Work and Community Planning at the UMAB Professional Schools in downtown Baltimore. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller were married in 1980. In 1988, they relocated to central Maine, living in Winslow. [2] In early 2018, they moved "into town" to nearby Waterville (on the other side of the Kennebec River). [3]

Throughout her life, Lee has been employed as various flavors of secretary, as well as advertising copywriter, call-in talk hostess, nightside news copy editor, freelance reporter, photographer, book reviewer, and deliverer of tractor trailers. Beginning in August 1997, she served three years as the executive director of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and was subsequently elected vice president, then president of that organization. [4]

Lee's first professional fiction publication was "A Matter of Ceremony," Amazing Stories , 1980. [5] Her most notable works to date are the books in the Liaden Universe, written in conjunction with her husband, Steve Miller, published by Baen Books, and which are considered part of the space opera sub-genre. Lee and Miller also co-authored the Fey Duology [6] - Duainfey and Longeye. Lee has written a contemporary fantasy series based in Maine - Carousel series (Archer's Beach), which includes 3 novels published by Baen Books and several short stories. In addition, she has written two Maine-based mystery novels—Barnburner [7] and Gunshy [8] —and several dozen short stories.

Bibliography

Jen Pierce Mysteries

(based in Maine)

Liaden Universe novels

(coauthored with Steve Miller)

Agent of Change Sequence

  • Agent of Change (1988) [19]
  • Conflict of Honors (1988) [20]
  • Carpe Diem (1989) [21]
  • Plan B (1999) [22]
  • I Dare (2002) [23] [24]
  • Local Custom (2002) [25] [26]
  • Scout's Progress (2002) [27]
  • Mouse and Dragon (2010) [28] ISBN   978-1451637595
  • Partners in Necessity (Omnibus edition of Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, and Carpe Diem) (2000) [29]
  • Pilot's Choice (Omnibus edition of Local Custom and Scout's Progress) (2001) [30]
  • The Dragon Variation (Omnibus edition of Local Custom, Scout's Progress and Conflict of Honors) (2010) [31]
  • The Agent Gambit (Omnibus edition of Agent of Change, Carpe Diem) (2011) [32] ISBN   978-1439134078
  • Korval's Game (Omnibus edition of Plan B and I Dare) (2011) [33]

The Great Migration

  • Crystal Soldier (2005) [34] [35] [36]
  • Crystal Dragon (2006) [37]
  • The Crystal Variation (Omnibus edition of Crystal Soldier, Crystal Dragon and Balance of Trade) (20110901) [38]

Other Liad novels

Liaden Universe Short Story Collections

  • A Liaden Universe Constellation (2013) [57]
  • A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 2 (2014) [58]
  • A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 3 (2015) [59]
  • A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 4 (2019) [60]
  • A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 5 (2022) [61]

The Fey Duology

(coauthored with Steve Miller)

Other Novels coauthored with Steve Miller

Anthology co-edited with Steve Miller

Awards and recognition

YearOrganizationAward title, CategoryWorkResultRefs
2012 Edward E. Smith Memorial Award Skylarkn/aWon [72]
2014 Locus (magazine) Locus Award, Science Fiction NovelNecessity's ChildNominated [73]
2014 Locus (magazine) Locus Award, Science Fiction NovelTrade SecretNominated [74]
1981Fool-Con Balrog Award, Short FictionA Matter of CeremonyNominated [75]
2010 Golden Duck Award Hal Clement AwardFledglingNominated [76]
2005 Golden Duck Award Hal Clement AwardBalance of TradeWon [77]
2013 SF Site SF Site Reader's PollDragon ShipWon [78]
2012 SF Site SF Site Reader's PollGhost ShipWon [79]
2011 SF Site SF Site Reader's PollSaltationNominated [80]
2002 Romantic Times Romantic Times Book Club Reviewers Choice Award for Best Science Fiction NovelScout's ProgressWon [81]
2002Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FF&P) Chapter of the Romance Writers of AmericaPrism AwardScout's ProgressWon [82]
2002Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FF&P) Chapter of the Romance Writers of AmericaPrism AwardLocal CustomNominated [83]

Science fiction conventions

She and Steve Miller have been a Guest of Honor or Special Guest at a number of science fiction conventions, including: SiliCon (1998); SheVaCon (2000, 2003); Albacon (2002); [84] Balticon (2003, 2016); [85] [86] MarsCon (2003, 2017); [87] [88] PortConME (2004, 2011); CONduit and Trinoc*coN (2004); Penguicon and COSine (2006); [89] [90] [91] Stellarcon (2009); DucKon and Oasis (2010); [92] ConQuesT and Chattacon (2012); [93] [94] Philcon (2014); [95] [96] Ravencon (2016); [97] [98] [99] and ConFluence (2017). [100] [101]

On fan fiction

Lee and Miller strongly oppose fan fiction written in their universe. "I don’t want 'other people interpreting' our characters. Interpreting our characters is what Steve and I do; it’s our job. Nobody else is going to get it right. This may sound rude and elitist, but honestly, it’s not easy for us to get it right sometimes, and we’ve been living with these characters... for a very long time... We built our universes, and our characters; they are our intellectual property; and they are not toys lying about some virtual sandbox for other kids to pick up and modify at their whim. Steve and I do not sanction fanfic written in our universes; any such work that exists, exists without our permission, and certainly without our support." [102]

Related Research Articles

The Baen Free Library is a digital library of the science fiction and fantasy publishing house Baen Books where 61 e-books as of June 2016 can be downloaded free in a number of formats, without copy protection. It was founded in late 1999 by science fiction writer Eric Flint and publisher Jim Baen to determine whether the availability of books free of charge on the Internet encourages or discourages the sale of their paper books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baen Books</span> American science fiction and fantasy publisher

Baen Books is an American publishing house for science fiction and fantasy. In science fiction, it emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, and military science fiction. The company was established in 1983 by science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. After his death in 2006, he was succeeded as publisher by long-time executive editor Toni Weisskopf.

The Liaden universe is the setting for an ongoing series of science fiction stories written by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The series covers a considerable time period, some thousands of years in all, although since it also covers more than one universe the exact chronology is unclear. However the main timeline extends across only a few generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Z. Williamson</span> American military science fiction writer

Michael Z. Williamson is an American military science fiction and military fiction author best known for his libertarian-themed Freehold series published by Baen Books. Between 2004 and 2016, Williamson published eight Freehold novels, exploring military and political themes as well as first contact with alien beings. This was followed by the Forged in Blood (2017) and Freehold: Resistance (2019) anthologies, consisting of short stories taking place in the Freehold universe, some by Williamson and some by other authors, including Larry Correia, Tony Daniel, Tom Kratman and Brad R. Torgersen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Bear</span> American author (born 1971)

Sarah Bear Elizabeth Wishnevsky is an American author who works primarily in speculative fiction genres, writing under the name Elizabeth Bear. She won the 2005 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Short Story for "Tideline", and the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novelette for "Shoggoths in Bloom". She is one of a small number of writers who have gone on to win multiple Hugo Awards for fiction after winning the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

The Endeavour Award, announced annually at OryCon in Portland, Oregon, is awarded to a distinguished science fiction or fantasy book written by an author or authors from Pacific Northwest and published in the previous year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Miller (artist and author)</span> American illustrator and writer (born 1947)

Ron Miller is an illustrator and writer who lives and works in South Boston, Virginia. He now specializes in astronomical, astronautical and science fiction books for adults and young adults.

<i>Jim Baens Universe</i> Online magazine (2006–2010)

Jim Baen's Universe (JBU) was a bimonthly online fantasy and science fiction magazine created by Jim Baen. It was recognized by the SFWA as a Qualifying Short Fiction Venue. JBU began soliciting materials in January 2006 and launched in June 2006. The magazine contained around 120,000 to 150,000 words per issue. It closed in 2010.

Sarah A. Hoyt is a Portuguese-born American science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction writer. She moved to the United States in the early 1980s, married Dan Hoyt in 1985, and became an American citizen in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusty Hevelin</span>

James LeRoy "Rusty" Hevelin was a science fiction fan, fanzine publisher, collector and huckster.

Carlton Frederick, better known as Carl Frederick, is an American science fiction author and physicist. His nonfiction book est: Playing the Game the New Way describing the Erhard Seminars Training (est) theatrical experience. reached number 2 on the New York Times bestseller list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Robinette Kowal</span> American author and puppeteer (born 1969)

Mary Robinette Kowal is an American author and puppeteer. Originally a puppeteer by primary trade after receiving a bachelor's degree in art education, she became art director for science fiction magazines and by 2010 was also authoring her first full-length published novels. The majority of her work is characterized by science fiction themes, such as interplanetary travel; a common element present in many of her novels is historical or alternate history fantasy, such as in her Glamourist Histories and Lady Astronaut books.

Neil Clarke is an American editor and publisher, mainly of science fiction and fantasy stories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Liu</span> Chinese-American writer

Ken Liu is an American author of science fiction and fantasy. Liu has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards for his short fiction, which has appeared in F&SF, Asimov's, Analog, Lightspeed, Clarkesworld, and multiple "Year's Best" anthologies.

Steve Miller is an American science fiction writer from Waterville, Maine, best known for his works set in the Liaden universe, written in collaboration with his wife Sharon Lee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kameron Hurley</span> American science-fiction writer

Kameron Hurley is an American science fiction and fantasy writer.

The Locus Award for Best Short Story is one of a series of Locus Awards given every year by Locus Magazine. Awards presented in a given year are for works published in the previous calendar year.

Yoon Ha Lee is an American science fiction and fantasy writer, known for his Machineries of Empire space opera novels and his short fiction. His first novel, Ninefox Gambit, received the 2017 Locus Award for Best First Novel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Andrew Jones</span> American speculative fiction author

Howard Andrew Jones is an American speculative fiction and fantasy author and editor, known for The Chronicles of Hanuvar series, The Chronicles of Sword and Sand series and The Ring-Sworn trilogy. He has also written Pathfinder Tales, tie-in fiction novels in the world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, published by Paizo. He is the editor of Tales from the Magician's Skull and has served as a Managing Editor at Black Gate since 2004. He assembled and edited a series of eight volumes of the short fiction of Harold Lamb for publication by Bison Books.

References

  1. Lardas, Mark (20 September 2009). "Liaden stories continue in series' latest novel". The Galveston County Daily News . Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  2. "Sharon Lee Writer of Liad Bio | Welcome to Liad". Korval.com. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  3. Lee, Sharon. "Liaden Universe® Infodump No. 120" Sharon Lee, Writer blog; May 26, 2018
  4. "Prior SFWA Board & Officers". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  5. John Clute (2013-10-24). "Authors : Lee, Sharon : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". Sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  6. "Fey Duology". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  7. "Barnburner by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  8. "Gunshy by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  9. "Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller WebScription Ebook". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  10. "Carousel Tides". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  11. "Carousel Sun by Sharon Lee - Baen Ebooks". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  12. "Carousel Seas by Sharon Lee - Baen Ebooks". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  13. "Comfortingly Local: Carousel Seas by Sharon Lee". Macmillan. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  14. "Surfside by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  15. "The Gift of Magic by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  16. "Spell Bound by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  17. "Barnburner by Sharon Lee". Pinbeam Books. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  18. "Gunshy by Sharon Lee". Gumshoe. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  19. "Agent of Change". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  20. "Conflict of Honors". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  21. "Carpe Diem". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  22. "Plan B". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  23. "I Dare". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  24. "I Dare". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  25. "Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". www.baen.com.
  26. "Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Smart Bitches Trashy Books, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  27. "Scout's Progress". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  28. "Mouse and Dragon (Liaden Universe, #7) by Sharon Lee — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". Goodreads.com. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  29. Lee, Sharon; Miller, Steve (July 2006). Partners Necessity Liaden Universe Novels. ISBN   1592221181.
  30. Lee, Sharon; Miller, Steve (2001). Pilots Choice Liaden Universe Adventures. ISBN   1892065029.
  31. "Baen Ebooks". Webscription.net. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  32. "The Agent Gambit (Liaden Universe #9-10) by Sharon Lee". Goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  33. "Korval's Game by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - WebScription Ebook". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  34. "Locus Online: New Books, April 2005, week 1". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  35. "The SF Site Featured Review: Crystal Soldier". www.sfsite.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  36. "Crystal Soldier". Baen ebooks.
  37. "Crystal Dragon". Baen ebooks.
  38. "The Crystal Variation". Baen ebooks.
  39. "Necessity's Child by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  40. "Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  41. "Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  42. "Fiction Book Review: Saltation by Sharon Lee, Author, Steve Miller, Author . Baen $24 (325p) ISBN 978-1-4391-3345-3". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  43. "Baen Ebooks". Webscription.net. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  44. ""Will she explode?" "Wouldn't surprise me in the least, given the lineage." Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller". Macmillan. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  45. "Dragon in Exile by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  46. "Dragon in Exile". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  47. "Fiction Book Review: Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Baen, $26 (448p) ISBN 978-1-4767-8148-8". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  48. "Fiction Book Review: Neogenesis by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Baen, $25 (368p) ISBN 978-1-4814-8278-3". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  49. Accepting the Lance (Liaden Universe®, #22) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. OCLC. OCLC   1114282930 . Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  50. Trader's Leap (Liaden Universe®, #23) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. OCLC. OCLC   1164825142 . Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  51. "The SF Site Featured Review: Balance of Trade, by Michael M Jones". www.sfsite.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  52. "The SF Site Featured Review: Balance of Trade, by Lisa DuMond". www.sfsite.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  53. May 2004, Lisa DuMond Issue: 10 (2004-05-09). "Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Balance of Trade: A New Episode in a Great Space Opera". Strange Horizons. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  54. "Fiction Book Review: Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee, Author, Steven Miller, Author Meisha Merlin Publishing $25 (464p) ISBN 978-1-59222-019-9". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  55. "Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  56. "Trade Secret by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  57. "A Liaden Universe Constellation". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  58. "A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 2". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  59. "A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 3". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  60. "A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 4". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  61. "A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 5". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  62. "Duainfey by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller WebScription Ebook". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  63. Schmidt, Bryan Thomas (2012-04-26). "[SFFWRTCHT] A Chat With Authors Sharon Lee & Steve Miller". Grasping for the Wind. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  64. "Longeye by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller WebScription Ebook". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  65. "Locus Online: Bestsellers on General Lists". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  66. "Locus Online: Bestsellers on General Lists". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  67. "Tomorrow Log". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  68. "Locus Online: New Books, early December 2005". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  69. Lee, Sharon; Miller, Steve (2005). The Sword of Orion. ISBN   0972002685.
  70. "Publication: Low Port". www.isfdb.org. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  71. Lee, Sharon; Miller, Steve (2003). Low Port. ISBN   1592220126.
  72. "Skylark Award". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  73. "Locus Awards 2014". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  74. "Locus Awards 2014". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  75. "Balrog Awards 1981". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  76. "Sharon Lee: Awards Summary". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  77. "Sharon Lee: Awards Summary". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  78. "SF Site Readers Poll 2013". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  79. "SF Site Readers Poll 2012". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  80. "SF Site Readers Poll 2011". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  81. "Book awards: Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award". Library Thing. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  82. "2002 RWA PRISM Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America (PRISM))". Fiction DB. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  83. "2002 RWA PRISM Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America (PRISM))". Fiction DB. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  84. "Locus Online: Convention Listings, 2002". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  85. Kaltenbach, Chris. "Balticon grew to 50 as sci-fi, fantasy grew more mainstream". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  86. "Balticon 37 Details [Version HH-20]". www.bsfs.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  87. "MarsCon 2017: "Dragons in Space"". marscon.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  88. "MarsCon 2003". marscon.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  89. muteid10t. "Penguicon 4.0 - Welcome to Penguicon". pc4.penguicon.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  90. "About – COSine 2020" . Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  91. "Locus Online: 2006 Convention Listings". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  92. "A History of OASIS". oasfis.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  93. Gephardt, Jan (2012-05-21). "Kansas City Science Fiction & Fantasy Society: The Big Week is Here: ConQuesT 43!". Kansas City Science Fiction & Fantasy Society. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  94. Picacio, John (2012-01-26). "Chattacon 37 Wrapup". On The Front. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  95. Jay, Pippa (2014-12-09). "SFR Brigade: Recap of PhilCon - Guest Post by TK Anthony". SFR Brigade. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  96. "Lee and Miller's PhilCon Principal Speaker Speech, in its entirety". Welcome to Liad. 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  97. "Text of Soapbox Rant at Ravencon, May 2016 – Sharon Lee, Writer" . Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  98. "Sharon Lee - Author Guest of Honor". RavenCon. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  99. Bridges, Heather. "RavenCon comes to Williamsburg". vagazette.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  100. "Spotlight: Confluence (August 4-6, 2017)". Littsburgh: Celebrating Literary Pittsburgh. 2017-05-07. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  101. "Lee and Miller Honors and Awards". Welcome to Liad. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  102. Sharon Lee, Writer (2013-10-26). "Lee, Sharon. "The second answer" Sharon Lee, Writer October 26, 2013". Sharonleewriter.com. Retrieved 2013-11-05.