Cassandra Rose Clarke (born 1983) is an American author who writes

speculative fiction Speculative fiction is an umbrella term, umbrella genre of fiction that encompasses all the subgenres that depart from Realism (arts), realism, or strictly imitating everyday reality, instead presenting fantastical, supernatural, futuristic, or ...

novels.

Education

Clarke graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2006 with a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

in English. She received a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...

creative writing Creative writing is any writing that goes beyond the boundaries of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on craft and technique, such as narrative structure, character ...

from the

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public university, public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 stud ...

in 2008. She was selected for the

Clarion West Writers Workshop Clarion West is a non-profit organization best known for their intensive six-week workshop for writers preparing for professional careers in speculative fiction. The Six-Week Workshop is a space for writing short stories and learning how to worksho ...

in 2010.

Writing style

Clarke writes

novels. Clarke's works have been praised, with particular emphasis on her skill in

worldbuilding Worldbuilding is the process of constructing an imaginary world or setting (narrative), setting, sometimes associated with a fictional universe. Developing the world with coherent qualities such as a history, geography, culture and ecology is a k ...

: ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' called ''Our Lady of the Ice'' "complex and lovely" with "worldbuilding

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

will sweep readers away." The worldbuilding in ''The Mad Scientist's Daughter'' was done with "a very light and deft touch" according to ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

''.

Works

*''The Mad Scientist's Daughter'' (2013) *''Our Lady of the Ice'' (2015) *''Magic of Blood and Sea'' (2017): A compilation of two of Clarke's earlier novels, ''The Assassin's Curse'' (2012) and ''The Pirate's Wish'' (2013) *''Magic of Wind and Mist'' (2017): A compilation of two of Clarke's earlier novels, ''The Wizard’s Promise'' (2014) and ''The Nobleman’s Revenge'' (previously unpublished) *''The Witch Who Came in from the Cold'': A serial fiction piece coauthored with

Max Gladstone Max Gladstone (born May 28, 1984) is an American fantasy author. He is best known for his 2012 debut novel ''Three Parts Dead'', which is part of '' The Craft Sequence'', his urban fantasy serial ''Bookburners'', and for co-writing '' This Is How Y ...

, Lindsay Smith, Ian Tregillis, and

Michael Swanwick Michael Swanwick (born November 18, 1950) is an American list of fantasy authors, fantasy and List of science-fiction authors, science fiction author who began publishing in the early 1980s. Writing career Swanwick's fiction writing began w ...

. *''Star's End'' (2017) *''Halo: Battle Born'' (2019) *''Halo: Meridian Divide'' (2019) *''Shadows'' ''Have'' ''Offended'' (2021)

Awards

In 2010, Clarke was a recipient of the Susan C. Petrey Clarion Scholarship Fund. In 2013, she was a finalist for the Philip K. Dick Award. She has also been nominated for the

Young Adult Library Services Association The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. YALSA is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand the capacity of l ...

Best Fiction for Young Adults Award.

References

1983 births 21st-century American novelists 21st-century American women writers American speculative fiction writers American women novelists Living people {{US-novelist-1980s-stub