R. J. Anderson

Rebecca Joan Anderson
Anderson reading at the Eden Mills Writers' Festival in 2016
Anderson reading at the Eden Mills Writers' Festival in 2016
BornKampala, Uganda
Notable worksFaery Rebels
Children3

Rebecca Joan Anderson is a Canadian author of fantasy and science fiction for children and teens, including the Faery Rebels and Ultraviolet series. Anderson currently lives in Stratford, Ontario.[1]

Biography

Anderson was born in Uganda in 1970, and went to school in New Jersey.[2] Anderson has three older brothers and is the daughter of a preacher. As a child, she would read many books to help her cope with bullying at her school. Her father introduced her to science fiction and fantasy, while her brothers introduced her to comic books. In June 2015, her father was 90; his health was declining due to Alzheimers.[3] She is involved in her church as a pianist and a Bible study teacher. Anderson includes issues of Christian faith in some of her books, though Publishers Weekly states that she "generally handles her material without preaching."[4] She is married and has 3 children.

Critical responses

Kirkus Reviews says that Anderson is "an assured storyteller with a knack for creating memorable characters."[5] Anderson has been praised for both series, with Knife (the first book in the Faery Rebels series) winning the Concorde Book Award in 2011 and nominated for a Carnegie Medal in 2009.[6] In 2011, she was nominated for a Nebula Award for Ultraviolet.[7] Ultraviolet was shortlisted for the Andre Norton Award in 2012.[8] She has been reviewed in CM: Canadian Review of Materials[9] and Canadian Children's Book News.[10] Booklist has called Ultraviolet, a story about a young adult synesthete, "a natural grabber for teens."[11] In 2010 the Canadian Library Association gave Spell Hunter the Honor Book designation.

Selected works

Faery Rebels Series

  • Knife, Orchard (London, England), 2008, published as Spell Hunter, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2009. Republished 2015 as "Knife" by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC (Phoenix, AZ)
  • Rebel, Orchard (London, England), 2009, published as Wayfarer, HarperTeen (New York, NY), 2010. Republished 2015 as "Rebel" by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC (Phoenix, AZ)
  • Arrow, Orchard (London, England), 2011, ISBN 978-1408312629. First US publication 2016 (same title) by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Flight and Flame Trilogy

  • Swift, Orchard (London, England), 2012, ISBN 978-1408312636 First US publication by Enclave Publishing 2020
  • Nomad, Orchard (London, England), 2014, ISBN 978-1408326480 First US publication by Enclave Publishing 2021
  • Torch, Enclave Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2021, ISBN 978-1621841609

Ultraviolet Series

Uncommon Magic Series

References

  1. ^ Busse, Morgan (19 June 2015). "Interview with R.J. Anderson". Enclave Publishing. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Contemporary Authors Online". Biography In Context. Gale. 2001. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  3. ^ Anderson, R.J. (Jun 12, 2015). "Why I Love Books for Children and Teens: The Whole Story". rjanderson.com.
  4. ^ "Wayfarer". Publishers Weekly. June 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Ultraviolet". Kirkus Reviews. 79 (16): 1454. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Author helps reveal the winning book". Bristol Post. Retrieved 30 November 2015.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "2011 Nebula Awards Announced". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Awarded to Others in Andre's Name". Andre Norton Books. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  9. ^ Higgins, Caroline (3 September 2010). "Wayfarer". CM: Canadian Review of Materials. 17 (1): 18. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  10. ^ Goodall, Lian (2009). "Sensual Fantasy Worlds". Canadian Children's Book News. 32 (3): 24–26. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  11. ^ Yusko, Shauna (2011). "Ultraviolet". Booklist. 108 (6): 56. Retrieved 29 November 2015.