Kerner, Elizabeth

PERSONAL: Born in FL. Education: Attended St. Andrews University, Scotland.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Tor Books, 175 5th Ave., New York, NY 10010. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Writer.

WRITINGS:

"TALES OF KOLMAR" SERIES; FANTASY

Song in the Silence: The Tale of Lanen Kaelar, Tor (New York, NY), 1997.

The Lesser Kindred, Tor (New York, NY), 2001.

Redeeming the Lost, Tor (New York, NY), 2004.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Another book in the "Tales of Kolmar" series, and a book to be written with another author.

SIDELIGHTS: In her first book, Song in the Silence: The Tale of Lanen Kaelar, Elizabeth Kerner presents an adventure fantasy about Lanen Kaelar, who never knew her mother and is nothing like the dutiful female her stepfather wants her to be. After his death, Lanen leaves her home to find Dragon Isle and search for the dragons, also known as the Greater Kindred, she has dreamt about all her life. In her search for the dragons, she also finds her soul mate, Varien, who is the king of the Greater Kindred. Reviewing the book for Booklist, Roland Green cited the novel's "excellent narrative technique, wit, and intelligence." Voice of Youth Advocates contributor Joyce Yen commented: "A true page-turner and will have the reader glued to the pages until the story is finished."

The Lesser Kindred is the sequel to Song in the Silence. Lanen and her new husband, Varien, learn that their archenemy, Berys, has completed the rites to become master of all demons. One of the demons is controlling Berys, and he thinks that Lanen is the answer to an ancient prophecy. He has a plan to kidnap Lanen and feed her to the demons. Varien and a few others stand in the demons' way to stop the plan, but Lanen is the only one who can save the dragons and humans. BookBrowser contributor Harriet Klausner wrote that the novel is an "entertaining fantasy tale that diehard fans will enjoy." Jackie Cassada noted in the Library Journal that the author relates "a complex and gratifying tale of loyalty and perseverance." A Publishers Weekly contributor further commented that "Kerner's prose is easy on the ear and the exploits of the dragons are new and fresh."

In the third book in the series, Redeeming the Lost, Lanen has been captured by the "Demonlord" as part of a plot to rule the world and destroy all dragons in the process. Varian, who is stuck in human form, and Lanen's friends and family join forces to rescue the pregnant Lanen and restore the souls of the dragonkind's "Lesser Kindred" in the process. The Demonlord, however, presents a formidable foe because he has acquired a new body made of molten rock that is known as the "Black Dragon." Library Journal contributor Cassada commented that Kerner "brings together many of the plot threads" presented in the previous two novels. A reviewer writing in Publishers Weekly called Redeeming the Lost a "solid conclusion to her high fantasy series." Booklist contributor Frieda Murray concluded that the author "develops both characters and action smoothly," labeling the novel a "consistently intelligent tale."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 15, 1997, Roland Green, review of Song in the Silence: The Tale of Lanen Kaelar, p. 1008; July, 2004, Frieda Murray, review of Redeeming the Lost, p. 1828.

Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 1996, review of Song in the Silence, p. 1772; May 15, 2004, review of Redeeming the Lost, p. 477.

Library Journal, February 15, 1997, Susan Hamburger, review of Song in the Silence, p. 165; December, 2000, Jackie Cassada, review of The Lesser Kindred, p. 196; June 15, 2004, Jackie Cassada, review of Redeeming the Lost, p. 65.

Publishers Weekly, January 27, 1997, review of Song in the Silence, p. 81; December 18, 2000, review of The Lesser Kindred, p. 60; June 28, 2004, review of Redeeming the Lost, p. 36.

Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 1997, Joyce Yen, review of Song in the Silence, p. 118.

ONLINE

AllReaders.com, http://www.allreaders.com/ (December 2, 2005), Lovely Wolff, review of Song in the Silence, Harriet Klausner, review of The Lesser Kind.

AllSciFi.com, http://www.allscifi.com/ (December 2, 2005), Lovely Wolff, review of Song in the Silence, Harriet Klausner, review of The Lesser Kind.

BookBrowser, http://www.bookbrowser.com/ (March 14, 2001), Harriet Klausner, review of The Lesser Kindred.

Elizabeth Kerner Home Page, http://www.elizabethkerner.com (September 12, 2001).

Nevermore Magazine, http://www.nevermoremagazine.com/ (December 2, 2005), "Chatting with Elizabeth Kerner."