Ari Berk (born March 7, 1967) is an American writer, folklorist, artist, and scholar of literature, iconography, and comparative myth. Berk holds degrees in Ancient History (B.A.), American Indian Studies (M.A.), and Comparative Literature and Culture (Ph.D.) from

Humboldt State University California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt or Humboldt) is a public university in Arcata, California. It is one of Cal Poly (disambiguation), three polytechnic universities in the California State University (CSU) sys ...

and the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...

respectively. His dissertation was directed by

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...

winner

N. Scott Momaday Navarre Scotte Momaday (February 27, 1934–January 24, 2024) was a Kiowa and American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. His novel ''House Made of Dawn'' was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1969 in literature, 1969, and ...

and Berk was appointed to the committee that developed the first

American Indian Studies Native American studies (also known as American Indian, Indigenous American, Aboriginal, Native, or First Nations studies) is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the history, culture, politics, issues, spirituality, sociology and co ...

doctoral program in the United States.Berk, Ari. "Curriculum Vitae." http://ariberk.com/cv.html Berk is the author of numerous books for children and adults. He collaborated with fairy artist

Brian Froud Brian Froud (born 1947) is an English fantasy illustrator and conceptual designer. He is most widely known for his 1978 book '' Faeries'' with Alan Lee, and as the conceptual designer of the Jim Henson films '' The Dark Crystal'' (1982) and ...

on ''

The Runes of Elfland ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

'' and ''Goblins!'', and was one of the authors of the ''

Lady Cottington ''Lady'' is a term for a woman who behaves in a polite way. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the female counterpart of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. "Lady" is al ...

'' series, along with

Terry Jones Terence Graham Parry Jones (1 February 1942 – 21 January 2020) was a Welsh actor, comedian, director, historian, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in English, Jones a ...

, and others. Berk began his interactive ''Secret History'' children's mythology series in the mid-2000s with '' The Secret History of Giants'', and followed this volume with '' The Secret History of Mermaids and Merfolk'', and '' The Secret History of Hobgoblins''. '' The Secret History of Giants'' won both a 2008 Recommended

Parents' Choice Award The Parents' Choice Award was an award presented by the non-profit Parents' Choice Foundation to recognize "the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels." It was considered a "prest ...

and a 2009 Notable Award from The National Council of Teachers of English. He is a professor of English at

Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (CMU) is a Public university, public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1892 as a private normal school and became a state institution in 1895. CMU is one of the eigh ...

and teaches

mythology Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...

folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...

American Indian studies Native American studies (also known as American Indian, Indigenous American, Aboriginal, Native, or First Nations studies) is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the history, culture, politics, issues, spirituality, sociology and co ...

, and

medieval literature Medieval literature is a broad subject, encompassing essentially all written works available in Europe and beyond during the Middle Ages (that is, the one thousand years from the fall of the Western Roman Empire ca. AD 500 to the beginning of t ...

. Berk is the former editor of the Folksroots section of

Realms of Fantasy ''Realms of Fantasy'' was a professional bimonthly fantasy speculative fiction magazine published by Sovereign Media, then Tir Na Nog Press, and Damnation Books, which specialized in fantasy fiction (including some horror), related nonfiction (wi ...

magazine. He also sits on the board of directors of the

Mythic Imagination Institute The Mythic Imagination Institute is a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, whose purpose is to encourage a creative response to life, both individual and collective, through storytelling and mythology: "Every life is a story, and a sto ...

. Born and raised in California, he now lives in Michigan with his wife and son.

Awards

* '' The Secret History of Giants'': Recommended Award 2008,

.Parents' Choice Award. "Parents' Choice." http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=25810&award=xx&from=Candlewick+Press * '' The Secret History of Giants'': Notable Award 2009, The National Council of Teachers of English.Children's Literature Assembly. "Notables." http://www.childrensliteratureassembly.org/notables/NCBLA09.pdf * '' William Shakespeare: His Life and Times'': Children's Choice Award 2010,

School Library Association The School Library Association (SLA) is an independent organization in the United Kingdom which promotes library, libraries and literacy in schools. The SLA was founded in 1937 and is based at Kembrey Park in north-eastern Swindon. It is a chari ...

.School Library Association. "Book Awards Information." http://www.sla.org.uk/information-book-award.php

Bibliography

Books

* ''Undertaken Trilogy: Lych Way'' (2014), Simon & Schuster * ''Undertaken Trilogy: Mistle Child'' (2013), Simon & Schuster * ''Undertaken Trilogy: Death Watch'' (2011), Simon & Schuster * ''Nightsong'' (2012), Simon and Schuster * ''The Secret History of Hobgoblins'' (2010), Templar Books * ''William Shakespeare: His Life and Times'' (2010), Templar Books * ''The Secret History of Mermaids and Merfolk'' (2009), Templar Books * ''How To Be A Viking'' (2008), Templar Books * ''Coyote Speaks'' (2008), Abrams Books * ''The Secret History of Giants'' (2008), Templar Books * ''Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Letters'' (2005), Abrams Books * ''Goblins!'' (2004), Abrams Books * ''The Runes of Elfland'' (2003), Abrams Books

Magazine articles

* ''Back Over the Wall - Charles Vess Revisits the World of Stardust'' (2007), Realms of Fantasy * ''The Lore of Simple Things - Milk, Honey, and Bread in Myth and Legend'' (2005), Realms of Fantasy * ''The Dance of the Labryrinth'' (2004), Realms of Fantasy * ''The Song of the Sampo - Mystery and the Numinous in the Kalevala'' (2004), Realms of Fantasy * ''Where the White Stag Runs - Boundary and Transformation in Deer Myths'' (2003), Realms of Fantasy * ''Penance, Power and Pursuit - On the Trail of the Wild Hunt'' (2002), Realms of Fantasy * ''A Rune With A View: An Introduction To The Visionary Alphabet of the Northern World'' (2002), Realms of Fantasy * ''Of Travels and Travails - Imagination, Landscape and Narrative'' (2001), Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Poems

* ''Anatomy, Winter Finds the World on Fire, Rings, A Rune of Loss, Night Thoughts'' (2007), Creative Journal VII * ''Night Thoughts: Sheherazade'' (2001), Endicott Studio Online Journal * ''Anatomies'' (2001), The Quest for the Green Man * ''Bag of Medicine and Wind'' (1999), Endicott Studio Online Journal * ''Paserik Burial'' (1998), Endicott Studio Online Journal

Screenplays

* ''

Lanval ''Lanval'' is one of the Lais of Marie de France. Written in Anglo-Norman, it tells the story of Lanval, a knight at King Arthur's court, who is overlooked by the king, wooed by a fairy lady, given all manner of gifts by her, and subsequently r ...

'' (2009), Shared Legends Project

Short stories

* '' Missing Limb'' (2009), Ravens In The Library

References

External links

Ari Berk's Official Web Site

The Undertaken Trilogy
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Berk, Ari 1967 births Living people 21st-century American novelists American children's writers American columnists American fantasy writers American folklorists American male novelists American male screenwriters California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt alumni University of Arizona alumni Novelists from Michigan American male short story writers 21st-century American short story writers 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers American male non-fiction writers Screenwriters from California Screenwriters from Michigan Screenwriters from Arizona 21st-century American screenwriters