I'm a normal human being who fell in love with the world of magic and fantasy at an early age. My favorite and first books comprised a multi-volume set of fairy tales, legends, and mythology. At the University of Oregon, my dual degree in English and Computer science taught me how to write and also provided a 35-year career in the burgeoning world of personal computers and software. I'm retired but now I write what I love—fantasy, fairy tales, magic. I have 12 published books, 9 of those also in audio format. The boring details: I was born in Eugene, Oregon and now live there in retirement.
I wrote...
The Compleat and True History of the Witches of Galdorheim
By
Marva Dasef
What is my book about?
After 10 years in print as individual books, the Witches of Galdorheim saga is now presented with every word of the four books and one short story comprising the entire series. Beginning with Bad Spelling, Katrina the klutzy witch searches for answers. Why can't she perform proper magic when she has the power and how does she find her magic in her journeys across the icy landscape of Norway, Finland, the Ural Mountains, Siberia, Atlantis, and the Scottish Highlands.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By
J.K. Rowling,
Mary Grandpré
Why this book?
I read my first Harry Potter book as an adult and was immediately hooked on the series. I've always loved fantasy books but was getting bored with medieval-style high fantasy books. Harry Potter manages to bridge the divide between children's books and adults. I was encouraged to write my own fantasy stories for adults but with teen and adult characters. Harry has Hogwarts. My witch, Kat, has a whole island devoted to educating the young in the craft.
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Silverlock
By
John Myers Myers
Why this book?
Most people don't even know about this book. Written in 1946, it's just a little older than I am. I read it years ago and was delighted by Myers' world woven from existing fantasy and legend. I also use what has worked before to make my own books both familiar and new. How convenient when you have a perfectly fantastic cauldron of long-held material completely free for the taking. I, as did Myers, took full advantage of the vast pool of wonderful existing ideas. “Silverlock” certainly showed me I could freely dip from the pool and just twist it a bit to fit my own tale.
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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
By
Mark Twain
Why this book?
I love Mark Twain and it was hard to choose just one of his many books. Several fit the bill of my theme: a person pulled out of their place or time and having to contend with the possibility of magic. Connecticut Yankee fits my idea of great fantasy. I like to have characters one might reasonably meet at a bar. At the same time, I want those characters to be out of place or time and have to use their wits in extraordinary ways. Hank Morgan is an average guy who is thrust back in time to King Author's court. A huge revelation for me is that it shows any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.* I didn't “get” this until I worked in the computer industry and realized we are surrounded by magic but we call it technology.
(The quote is from Arthur C. Clark who “got” it years before we decided to fly to the moon.)
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Storm Front
By
Jim Butcher
Why this book?
Right after fantasy, my favorite genre is mystery. The Dresden Files gives me both, so it has to be on my favorites list. I put it on my recommendation list because it fits nicely with my own fantasy series. Harry Dresden is a wizard and he puts those skills to use solving crime. My own main character is a witch living in the modern world (no horrible fantasy maps need to be drawn, just get out an atlas) and trying to use her magic in good ways. Just like Harry. Sometimes it doesn't quite work as advertised. My favorite form of fantasy is humorous, so I love the Dresden Files. It touches all the bases with me.
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The Wizard of Oz
By
L. Frank Baum,
Lizbeth Zwerger
Why this book?
I, like so many others, have loved the story of Dorothy's trip to Oz, plus the other Oz adventures. This is a classic that should be required reading for… well, everybody. The combination of fascinating characters, a magical world (not Kansas for sure), and a journey in search of something. In Dorothy's case, it's the way home. This is a classic theme that L. Frank Baum tells in such an engaging style, it is almost the archetype of the motif if you never heard of Odysseus. Even then, I find the Oz books more engaging and heartfelt than the mythical stories of the Greek hero.
