Sharon Lee (writer)
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.
Sharon Lee | |
---|---|
Born | Sharon Lee Backof September 11, 1952 Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
Occupation | Writer |
Period | 1979–present |
Genre | Fantasy, science fiction |
Spouse | Steve Miller |
Website | |
sharonleewriter |
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
Carousel series (Archer's Beach)
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
Other Liad novels
Liaden Universe Short Story Collections
Awards and recognition
Year | Organization | Award title, Category | Work | Result | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Edward E. Smith Memorial Award | Skylark | n/a | Won | [69] |
2014 | Locus (magazine) | Locus Award, Science Fiction Novel | Necessity's Child | Nominated | [70] |
2014 | Locus (magazine) | Locus Award, Science Fiction Novel | Trade Secret | Nominated | [71] |
1981 | Fool-Con | Balrog Award, Short Fiction | A Matter of Ceremony | Nominated | [72] |
2010 | Golden Duck Award | Hal Clement Award | Fledgeling | Nominated | [73] |
2005 | Golden Duck Award | Hal Clement Award | Balance of Trade | Won | [74] |
2013 | SF Site | SF Site Reader's Poll | Dragon Ship | Won | [75] |
2012 | SF Site | SF Site Reader's Poll | Ghost Ship | Won | [76] |
2011 | SF Site | SF Site Reader's Poll | Saltation | Nominated | [77] |
2002 | Romantic Times | Romantic Times Book Club Reviewers Choice Award for Best Science Fiction Novel | Scout's Progress | Won | [78] |
2002 | Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FF&P) Chapter of the Romance Writers of America | Prism Award | Scout's Progress | Won | [79] |
2002 | Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FF&P) Chapter of the Romance Writers of America | Prism Award | Local Custom | Nominated | [80] |
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);[81] Balticon (2003, 2016);[82][83] MarsCon (2003, 2017);[84][85] PortConME (2004, 2011); CONduit and Trinoc*coN (2004); Penguicon and COSine (2006);[86][87][88] Stellarcon (2009); DucKon and Oasis (2010);[89] ConQuesT and Chattacon (2012);[90][91] Philcon (2014);[92][93] Ravencon (2016);[94][95][96] and ConFluence (2017).[97][98]
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."[99]
References
- Lardas, Mark (20 September 2009). "Liaden stories continue in series' latest novel". The Galveston County Daily News. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- "Sharon Lee Writer of Liad Bio | Welcome to Liad". Korval.com. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
- Lee, Sharon. "Liaden Universe® Infodump No. 120" Sharon Lee, Writer blog; May 26, 2018
- "Prior SFWA Board & Officers". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- John Clute (2013-10-24). "Authors : Lee, Sharon : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". Sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
- "Fey Duology". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Barnburner by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Gunshy by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller WebScription Ebook". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Carousel Tides". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Carousel Sun by Sharon Lee - Baen Ebooks". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Carousel Seas by Sharon Lee - Baen Ebooks". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Comfortingly Local: Carousel Seas by Sharon Lee". Macmillan. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- "Surfside by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "The Gift of Magic by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Spell Bound by Sharon Lee - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Barnburner by Sharon Lee". Pinbeam Books. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "Gunshy by Sharon Lee". Gumshoe. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "Agent of Change". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "Conflict of Honors". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "Carpe Diem". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "Plan B". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "I Dare". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "I Dare". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". www.baen.com.
- "Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Smart Bitches Trashy Books, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "Scout's Progress". Tres Barbas, LLC. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "Mouse and Dragon (Liaden Universe, #7) by Sharon Lee — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". Goodreads.com. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
- "Partners Necessity Liaden Universe Novels". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Pilots Choice Liaden Universe Adventures". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Baen Ebooks". Webscription.net. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
- "The Agent Gambit (Liaden Universe #9-10) by Sharon Lee". Goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
- "Korval's Game by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - WebScription Ebook". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Locus Online: New Books, April 2005, week 1". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "The SF Site Featured Review: Crystal Soldier". www.sfsite.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "Crystal Soldier". Baen ebooks.
- "Crystal Dragon". Baen ebooks.
- "The Crystal Variation". Baen ebooks.
- "Necessity's Child by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "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.
- "Baen Ebooks". Webscription.net. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
- ""Will she explode?" "Wouldn't surprise me in the least, given the lineage." Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller". Macmillan. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- "Dragon in Exile by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "Dragon in Exile". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "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.
- "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.
- "Accepting the Lance (Liaden Universe®, #22) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". OCLC. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
- "Trader's Leap (Liaden Universe®, #23) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". OCLC. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
- "The SF Site Featured Review: Balance of Trade, by Michael M Jones". www.sfsite.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "The SF Site Featured Review: Balance of Trade, by Lisa DuMond". www.sfsite.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- 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.
- "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.
- "Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "Trade Secret by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller". Baen Ebooks. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- "A Liaden Universe Constellation". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 2". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 3". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "A Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 4". Baen ebooks. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Duainfey by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller WebScription Ebook". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- Schmidt, Bryan Thomas (2012-04-26). "[SFFWRTCHT] A Chat With Authors Sharon Lee & Steve Miller". Grasping for the Wind. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "Longeye by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller WebScription Ebook". www.baen.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "Locus Online: Bestsellers on General Lists". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "Locus Online: Bestsellers on General Lists". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "Tomorrow Log". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "Locus Online: New Books, early December 2005". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "The Sword of Orion". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "Skylark Award". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Locus Awards 2014". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Locus Awards 2014". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Balrog Awards 1981". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Sharon Lee: Awards Summary". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Sharon Lee: Awards Summary". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "SF Site Readers Poll 2013". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "SF Site Readers Poll 2012". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "SF Site Readers Poll 2011". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Book awards: Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award". Library Thing. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "2002 RWA PRISM Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America (PRISM))". Fiction DB. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "2002 RWA PRISM Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America (PRISM))". Fiction DB. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- "Locus Online: Convention Listings, 2002". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- Kaltenbach, Chris. "Balticon grew to 50 as sci-fi, fantasy grew more mainstream". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Balticon 37 Details [Version HH-20]". www.bsfs.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "MarsCon 2017: "Dragons in Space"". marscon.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "MarsCon 2003". marscon.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- muteid10t. "Penguicon 4.0 - Welcome to Penguicon". pc4.penguicon.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "About – COSine 2020". Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Locus Online: 2006 Convention Listings". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- "A History of OASIS". oasfis.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- 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.
- Picacio, John (2012-01-26). "Chattacon 37 Wrapup". On The Front. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- Jay, Pippa (2014-12-09). "SFR Brigade: Recap of PhilCon - Guest Post by TK Anthony". SFR Brigade. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Lee and Miller's PhilCon Principal Speaker Speech, in its entirety". Welcome to Liad. 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Text of Soapbox Rant at Ravencon, May 2016 – Sharon Lee, Writer". Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Sharon Lee - Author Guest of Honor". RavenCon. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- Bridges, Heather. "RavenCon comes to Williamsburg". vagazette.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Spotlight: Confluence (August 4-6, 2017)". Littsburgh: Celebrating Literary Pittsburgh. 2017-05-07. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- "Lee and Miller Honors and Awards". Welcome to Liad. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- Sharon Lee, Writer (2013-10-26). "Lee, Sharon. "The second answer" ''Sharon Lee, Writer'' October 26, 2013". Sharonleewriter.com. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
External links
- Official website
- Sharon Lee at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Sharon Lee at Library of Congress Authorities, with 30 catalog records