de Lint, Charles 1951–

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de Lint, Charles 1951–

(Samuel M. Key, Charles Henri Diederick Höfsmit de Lint)

PERSONAL:

Born December 22, 1951, in Bussum, Netherlands; brought to Canada, 1952; naturalized Canadian citizen, 1961; son of Frederick Charles (a pilot and survey project manager) Höfsmit and Gerardina Margaretha (a high school teacher) Höfsmit-de Lint; married MaryAnn Harris (an artist), September 15, 1980.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Agent—MaryAnn Harris, P.O. Box 9480, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3V2, Canada. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer, poet, and musician. Worked in various clerical and construction positions, 1967-71, and as retail clerk and manager of record stores, 1971-83; owner and editor of Triskell Press, 1977—. Also writes and performs music. Judge for William L. Crawford Award, Canadian SF/Fantasy Award, World Fantasy Award, Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Short Fiction Award, Horror Writers of America Award, and Nebula Award. Member of Wickentree (traditional Celtic folk music band), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 1972-85.

MEMBER:

Science Fiction Writers of America, Science Fiction Writers of Canada.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Small Press and Artists Organization Award, 1982; William L. Crawford Award for best new fantasy author, International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, 1984; Canadian SF/Fantasy Award ("Casper") nominations, 1986, for Mulengro, and 1987, for Yarrow; Casper Award (now the Aurora) for best work in English, Canadian SF/Fantasy Awards, 1988, for Jack the Giant-Killer; Readercon Small Press Award for best short work, 1989; HOMer Award for best fantasy novel, CompuServe Science Fiction & Fantasy Forum, 1991, and Best Books for the Teen-Age list, New York Public Library, 1992, both for The Little Country; Bram Stoker nomination for best novelette, 1992, for Death Leaves and Echo; Prix Ozone for best foreign fantasy short story, 1997, for "Timeskip"; best books for young adults list, Young Adult Library Services/American Library Association, 1998, for Trader, 2003, for Waifs and Strays; World Fantasy Award for best collection, 2000, for Moonlight and Vines; Nebula Award nomination for best novel, 2001, for Forests of the Heart; best books for young adults selection, Young Adult Library Services/American Library Association, 2003, for Seven Wild Sisters and Jack of Kinrowan; World Fantasy Award nominations, 2003, for best novella Seven Wild Sisters, and for best collection Waifs and Strays; Best Book for Young Adults, Young Adult Library Services Association/American Library Association, 2005, and White Pine Award for best Canadian young adult fiction, Ontario Library Association, 2006, both for The Blue Girl; British Fantasy Award for Best Novel (The August Derleth Fantasy Award), 2006, for Widdershins.

WRITINGS:

"NEWFORD" SERIES

The Dreaming Place, illustrated by Brian Froud, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1990.

(Under pseudonym Samuel M. Key) From a Whisper to a Scream, Berkley (New York, NY), 1992.

Dreams Underfoot, Tor (New York, NY), 1993.

(Under pseudonym Samuel M. Key) I'll Be Watching You, Jove (New York, NY), 1994.

Memory and Dream, Tor (New York, NY), 1994.

The Ivory and the Horn: A Newford Collection, Tor (New York, NY), 1995.

Trader, Tor (New York, NY), 1997.

Someplace to Be Flying, Tor (New York, NY), 1998.

Moonlight and Vines: A Newford Collection, Tor (New York, NY), 1999.

Forests of the Heart, Tor (New York, NY), 2000.

The Onion Girl, Tor (New York, NY), 2001.

Seven Wild Sisters, illustrated by Charles Vess, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2002.

Tapping the Dream Tree (short stories), Tor (New York, NY), 2002.

Spirits in the Wires, Tor (New York, NY), 2003.

Medicine Road, illustrated by Charles Vess, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2004.

The Blue Girl (young adult), Viking (New York, NY), 2004.

Widdershins, Tor (New York, NY), 2006.

Promises to Keep, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2007.

"MOONHEART" SERIES

Moonheart: A Romance, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1984.

Ascian in Rose (novella), Axolotl Press (Eugene, OR), 1987.

Westlin Wind (novella), Axolotl Press (Eugene, OR), 1988.

Ghostwood, illustration by Donna Gordon, Axolotl Press (Eugene, OR), 1990.

Spiritwalk (omnibus; includes Ascian in Rose, Westlin Wind, and Ghostwood), Tor (New York, NY), 1992.

"CERIN SONGWEAVER" SERIES

The Harp of the Grey Rose, Donning (Norfolk, VA), 1985, new edition printed as The Harp of the Grey Rose: The Legend of Cerin Songweaver, Firebird (New York, NY), 2004.

And the Rafters Were Ringing, Triskell Press (Ottawa, Canada), 1986.

Ghost of Wind and Shadow, Axolotl Press (Eugene, OR), 1990.

The Bone Woman, 1992.

"JACK OF KINROWAN" SERIES

Jack the Giant-killer: A Novel of Urban Faerie (also see below), Armadillo-Ace (New York, NY), 1987.

Drink down the Moon: A Novel of Urban Faerie (also see below), Ace Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Jack of Kinrown (includes Jack the Giant-killer and Drink down the Moon), Tor (New York, NY), 1995.

OTHER

De Grijze Roos (title means "The Grey Rose"; short stories), Een Exa Uitgave, 1983.

The Riddle of the Wren, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1984.

Moonheart: A Romance, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1984.

(Editor) World Fantasy Convention, 1984, Triskell Press (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), 1984.

The Calendar of the Trees (poem), illustrations by Donna Gordon, Triskell Press (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), 1984.

Mulengro: A Romany Tale, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1985, new edition titled Mulengro, Orb (New York, NY), 2003.

Yarrow: An Autumn Tale, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1986.

Greenmantle, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Wolf Moon, New American Library (New York, NY), 1988, new edition, Firebird (New York, NY), 2004.

The Valley of Thunder: Philip Jose Farmer's The Dungeon: Book Three, Byron Preiss/Bantam (New York, NY), 1988.

The Hidden City: Philip Jose Farmer's The Dungeon: Book Five, Byron Preiss/Bantam (New York, NY), 1988.

Svaha, Ace (New York, NY), 1989.

The Fair in Emain Macha (novella; published with Ill Met in Lankhmar by Fritz Leiber), Tor (New York, NY), 1990.

(Under pseudonym Samuel M. Key) Angel of Darkness, Berkley (New York, NY), 1990.

Paperjack, illustrated by Judy J. King, Cheap Street (New Castle, VA), 1991.

Our Lady of the Harbour (novella), Axolotl Press (Eugene, OR), 1991.

Ghost Winds and Shadow, Axolotl Press (Eugene, OR), 1991.

(With others) Café Purgatorium (includes novella Death Leaves as Echo), Tor (New York, NY), 1991.

The Little Country, Morrow (New York, NY), 1991.

Into the Green, Tor (New York, NY), 1993.

The Wild Wood, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Triskell Tales, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2000.

The Road to Lisdoonvarna, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2001.

Waifs and Strays (short stories), preface by Terri Windling, Viking (New York, NY), 2002.

Sweet Forget-me-not, Triskell Press (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), 2002.

A Circle of Cats (picture book), illustrated by Charles Vess, Viking (New York, NY), 2003.

A Handful of Coppers: Collected Early Stories, Heroic Fantasy, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2003.

The World in a Box (chapbook), Triskell Press (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), 2004.

This Moment, Triskell Press (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), 2005.

Quicksilver & Shadow: Collected Early Stories, Volume 2: Contemporary and Dark Fantasy and Science Fiction, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2005.

Triskell Tales 2: 6 More Years of Chapbooks, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2005.

Little (Grrl) Lost, Viking (New York, NY), 2007.

Woods and Waters Wild, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2008.

What the Mouse Found, Subterranean Press (Burton, MI), 2008.

Dingo, Firebird (New York, NY), 2008.

Also author of poetry, and of comic book scripts for Aircel Publishing, c. mid-1980s. Contributor to books, including Swords against Darkness IV, edited by Andrew J. Offutt, Zebra (New York, NY), 1979; The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 8, edited by Arthur W. Saha, DAW (New York, NY), 1982; Sword and Sorceress, edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley, DAW (New York, NY), 1984; Sword and Sorceress II, edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley, DAW (New York, NY), 1985; Borderland, edited by Terri Windling and Mark Arnold, Signet (New York, NY), 1986; Liavek: The Players of Luck, edited by Will Shetterly and Emma Bull, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1986; Dragons and Dreams, 1986, and Spaceships and Spells, 1987, both edited by Jane Yolen, Martin H. Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh, Harper (New York, NY); Sword and Sorceress IV, edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley, DAW (New York, NY), 1987; The Annual Review of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Meckler Publishing, 1988; and Scattered Gold, Parts 1 and 2, Triskell Press (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), 1990. Author of columns in horror and science fiction magazines, including Short Form, Horrorstruck, Other-Realms, and Mystery Scene; contributor to other periodicals, including Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine and Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

SIDELIGHTS:

Known for his blend of the magical and the mundane, a style that some critics have dubbed "urban fantasy," Charles de Lint has written a number of contemporary fantasy novels since publishing The Riddle of the Wren in 1984. Born in the Netherlands, he is a naturalized citizen of Canada and features Canadian settings in books such as Moonheart: A Romance and Yarrow: An Autumn Tale. He has also created the city of Newford, built upon the ruins of the Old City destroyed by an earthquake in the nineteenth century. Many of his characters are "outsider" protagonists such as runaways, homosexuals, artists, and abuse survivors. His stories contain elements of both the fantastic and the ordinary, in which "the reader gets the impression that this other reality does exist and, given the right circumstances, is within reach," according to a contributor to the St. James Guide to Fantasy Writers. The contributor further described de Lint's work, especially his stories about Newford, as "blending H.P. Lovecraft's imagery, Lord Dunsany's poetry, Jonathan Carroll's surrealism and Alice Hoffman's small-town strangeness … [into] a haunting mixture of human warmth and cold inevitability, of lessons learned and prices to be paid." Though not a writer for young adults per se, de Lint's novels are popular with teenagers and have been honored with several awards for young adult fiction. "De Lint's narratives tend to be experimental," explained a contributor to Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, "as if in constant rebellion against the expectations of his audience. This very rebelliousness is exhilarating and may account in part for the appeal of his work for teenagers; his narratives seem to make their own rules, to stand apart from the ordinary, much as a reader might like to do."

Reviewing Moonheart for the Toronto Globe and Mail, Douglas Hill described the novel as "an ambitious hybrid" that combines traditional fantasy elements with those of horror, suspense, and romance in a modern setting in Ottawa, Ontario. Strange events at an Ottawa mansion prove to be linked to a long-standing battle between good and evil forces, and modern weaponry and ancient spells come together in the climax. Hill observed: "De Lint sustains his balance between ordinary reality and legend with skill." De Lint revisits the mansion, called Tamson House, in the sequel Spiritwalk. The artists and mystical denizens of the house are engaged in a battle to save the house from evil forces, a battle that utilizes their reliance on the forces of nature. A contributor to Publishers Weekly called Spiritwalk a "powerful story of sacrifice, revenge and the responsibility of power."

Yarrow concerns a modern-day vampire who feeds on others' dreams, particularly those of a Canadian writer whose dreams are the foundation of her books. Imagination and literature are also a source of fantasy in The Little Country. Here, the British village of Mousehole is introduced. Singer Janey Little returns home and discovers an unpublished manuscript, The Little Country, in the attic of her family's home. The manuscript describes the imaginary town of Bodbury and endows its reader with unusual powers. Soon Janey is pursued by John Madden, the leader of the evil Order of the Grey Dove, who sets out to steal the manuscript. The events of Janey's life start to parallel those in The Little Country, and she finds herself not only entwined in a love story, but also stalked by a killer who is posing as a reporter for Rolling Stone. The "book within a book" device adds to the fantastical quality of the novel, which is tempered by the "complete believability" of the characters, according to a contributor to the St. James Guide to Fantasy Writers. Sybil Steinberg wrote in Publishers Weekly that "de Lint's rendering of the small Cornish town of Mousehole and the life of a folk musician rings true."

In Memory and Dream, de Lint tells the story of Newford artist Isabelle, whose paintings come to life. Isabelle must learn to control her power if she is to continue to paint, and over the twenty years that span the story, she comes to understand the fallacies that have previously guided her life. Booklist contributor Roland Green called the characters in this tale "exceptionally well-realized," and a reviewer for Publishers Weekly commended the author's "multi-voiced, time-shifting narrative … [that] beautifully evokes a sense of creative community."

Fourteen of de Lint's stories that take place in Newford are collected in The Ivory and the Horn: A Newford Collection, and more are presented in Moonlight and Vines: A Newford Collection and Tapping the Dream Tree. Several of the stories are linked, and some of the characters from de Lint's other Newford stories reappear. A contributor to Publishers Weekly called de Lint's writing in Moonlight and Vines "smooth and captivating."

Native American elements are explored in Someplace to Be Flying, another novel that takes place in Newford. A photographer seeks out fantastic creatures called "animal people," who are rumored to exist in the underbelly of the city. When she is mugged, a cab driver who stops to help her is shot, and the two of them are rescued by shapeshifters. The photographer is introduced to a community of the First People, many of whom personify the Native American types of the trickster and the storyteller. Eventually, they all become embroiled in a quest for treasure and a way to bring virtue back to the world. Jackie Cassada, writing in Library Journal, complimented de Lint's "elegant prose and effective storytelling" in the book.

In Trader, two men switch bodies. Leonard Trader finds himself in the body of hard-drinking, woman- chasing Johnny Devlin; Trader is then tossed out on the street with no way home, while Devlin finds himself living it up as a prosperous maker of guitars with access to all his favorite vices. Critics applauded the novel, with many noting de Lint's reluctance to put forth a hard lesson in the story in favor of focusing on the characters' lives and the lives of those around them. "A master of urban fantasy returns with one of his finest works," asserted a contributor Publishers Weekly, and Green stated in Booklist that "it is hard to imagine urban fantasy done with greater skill."

Celtic and Native American traditions inform Forests of the Heart, a "Newford" novel in which the Gentry—ancient spirits of Ireland—rise up against the spirits of the New World. The mortals of the story are the healer Bettina San Miguel and an artist named Ellie Jones, who is surprised to learn she has psychic powers. It is a "tale of urban magic," according to a reviewer for Publishers Weekly, "in which a diverse cast of characters learns that all the oldest myths are true."

Painter Jilly Coppercorn is the heroine of The Onion Girl, another tale that weaves Celtic and Native American traditions into the fabric of Newford life. Jilly is hospitalized following a car accident and is depressed over the possibility that she may never be able to paint again. However, when her friends discover some of her paintings have been vandalized following the accident, they begin to wonder whether the car ac- cident may have been intentional. Jilly is forced to confront her dark secrets, even as she escapes farther and farther into her own dream world, which is soon haunted by her tortured younger sister. A contributor to Publishers Weekly reported that the story is a "crazy-quilt fantasy [that] moves from the outer to the inner world with amazing ease."

De Lint brings Jilly back in his 2006 fantasy Widdershins. Jilly is falling in love with fiddle player Geordie and breaks up with her boyfriend Daniel so that she can play with Geordie in a gig, even though he is already seeing someone. The lives of the characters are complicated by the nasty bogans, however, who attack another musician named Lizzie and her cousin Siobhan. When Lizzie and Jilly are then abducted by the fairies, they encounter even more strange creatures in the world outside the human realm. A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that all the relationships between the characters were rather "convoluted," while still calling Widdershins a "sweet relationship novel." Frieda Murray, writing in Booklist, complimented de Lint because he "weaves the individual characters' stories into a tight-knit whole."

The author offers a bit of an environmentalist theme in another "Newford" story, Seven Wild Sisters. Sarah Jane Dillard, the middle child of seven sisters, befriends Aunt Lillian, who teaches her about herbs and other plants at her remote home in the forest. While visiting Lillian, however, Sarah Jane also hears stories about a fairy princess and her forbidden love for a 'sangman; the girl finds herself right in the midst of a fairy political conflict when she herself encounters a forest fairy in what Booklist contributor Gillian Engberg called a "suspenseful, unique, and unexpected fantasy." A Publishers Weekly contributor also praised the book as "a gentle and at times humorous enchantment."

Two of Sarah Jane's sisters, Laurel and Bess, also appear in de Lint's Medicine Road. The two sisters are musicians who decide to travel the Southwest to play their music. On the way, they encounter two spirits, Alice Corn Hair and Jim Changing Dog, who must find their true loves in order to retain their human forms; otherwise, they will be trapped in their animal forms. Alice finds her soul mate, while Jim thinks his is Bess, but Laurel finds she must assist her sister in connecting with her animal self in order to help both her and Jim. "The mythic magic inevitable in all of De Lint's best fantasies marks the spirited conclusion," remarked a Publishers Weekly contributor of this installment of the "Newford" books.

After publishing a collection of stories set in Newford, Tapping the Dream Tree, de Lint put a new twist on his combination of fantasy and modern worlds with Spirits in the Wires. The premise here is that there is a kind of spiritual world in the Internet called Wordwood. Saskia Madding is one of the residents of this world, while another character, Christiana Tree, is a "shadow self" of one of Newford's residents, author Christy Riddel. Trouble brews when it seems that Wordwood is in danger of being destroyed, and Saskia suddenly disappears. Christy and Christiana must find her and see if they can prevent a spirit-world disaster. Despite the farfetched plot, a Publishers Weekly contributor remarked that de Lint is able to make "the binary tangible and handles his concept of technological voodoo with intelligence, verve and wit." Murray, writing again in Booklist, similarly praised the author's ability to mix ideas from modern technology with fantasy "without slighting his customary superb characterization and plot development skills."

The Blue Girl returns to the town of Newford proper, and, according to Donna Scanlon in the Toronto Globe and Mail, "is de Lint's first specifically young-adult novel in nearly fifteen years." Of course, fairies are once again a factor. The story features an unusual friendship between Imogene, a brassy girl who favors goth clothes and is the new student at school, and the smart, quiet Maxine, who is an easy target for bullies. The two encounter another odd character, Adrian, the ghost of someone who died at the school and has encounters with fairies. However, when Adrian tries to introduce Imogene to the fairies, he unwittingly gains the attention of malevolent beings who hunger for human souls. Mixed in with all this is an angel and the reappearance of Imogene's imaginary childhood friend, Pelly. With so much going on, one Publishers Weekly contributor commented that the story "feels a bit strained, packed with one mythology too many." On the other hand, Sarah Couri, writing for the School Library Journal, asserted that "the otherworldly threat skillfully mirrors and enhances real-world concerns." "Overall," noted Scanlon, "the storytelling is superb, taut with suspense, leavened with humour and packed with fresh, frank observations from both girls."

In Promises to Keep the author returns to Newford, where Jilly reunites with old friend Donna. The two first met at the Home for Wayward Girls, and both are trying to start new lives. When Jilly, who is now in college, goes to see Donna and her rockabilly band perform on All Hallows Eve, she soon discovers herself in a world where she can forget her past but discovers that the inhabitants are actually dead. Frieda Murray, writing in Booklist, noted that the novel features de Lint's "characteristic powerful yet intimate style." Jackie Cassada, writing in Library Journal, commented that the author "brings to light another tale of enchantment and mystery."

In Little (Grrl) Lost, de Lint tells the story of T.J., whose family moves from the farm to the suburbs, where T.J. finds it hard to adjust. Making matters worse, she had to leave behind her horse, Shy. Then T.J. meets Elizabeth, a punk-like sixteen-year-old who is a "little" and only one-half foot tall. Soon the two are off on a series of adventures that involve both the real world and magical realms. "De Lint has created two interesting characters, who work even better when juxtaposed against each other," wrote Steven H. Silver in a review for the SF Site Web site, adding later in the same review: "The characters' growth is handled well without being preachy and de Lint demonstrates a strong understanding that there is a difference between fourteen and seventeen." Joan Marshall, writing for Resource Links, called the two girls "powerful, amusing characters who, through bravery and chutzpah take control of their lives in spite of fear and danger. T.J.'s protective parents and her cool older brother are entirely realistic, while the faerie characters are riveting no matter how small their role, as they lead Elizabeth to safety."

In Dingo, the story revolves around high school senior Miguel and a new girl in school, Lainey, who has just arrived from Australia. Soon the two are dating, leading Miguel to learn that his girlfriend is not really human but rather a shape-changer who is half dingo, just like her twin sister, Em. Dingo was called "tautly written, imaginative fantasy" by Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan. A Publishers Weekly contributor noted the novel's "likable, if flawed protagonists, well-developed contemporary locales and the introduction of potent mythic characters directly into our world."

Matters become further complicated for Miguel when he learns that Lainey and her sister are being hunted by their father, Tallyman, who is to bring them back to Warrigal, who is the first Dingo. Warrigal, it seems, is trapped in a tree and needs the girls' blood to free himself. Miguel finds himself teaming up with the local bully, Johnny Ward, whom Em has a crush on, to save the twins. "De Lint is undeniably one of today's best fantasy writers, and in Dingo he brings to life a captivating menagerie of Australian culture and Native American folklore, with just a dash of teenage first love," wrote Cara Chancellor in Kliatt. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted: "Miguel is a nifty character … and the satisfying ending is romantic as heck."

De Lint once told CA: "Writing is, like all forms of creative endeavor, a form of communication, so I believe that it's the writer's job to make his work as accessible as possible to his or her readership—but not to the detraction of the work itself. In a world that's growing increasingly cold-hearted and mechanical, I like to do what I can to remind my readers of the wonders that are still present and the need to preserve those wonders and mysteries, doing so through the exaggerated technique of fantasies set in the contemporary world. I'd like to add that I'm no Luddite—technological wonders are as magical as any to be found in nature."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Gale (Detroit, MI), Volume 10, pp. 35-41, Volume 11, pp. 175-189, 465-471, 2001.

St. James Guide to Fantasy Writers, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1996, pp. 153-155.

PERIODICALS

Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, November, 1993, review of Dreams Underfoot, p. 162; July, 1997, review of Trader, p. 272.

Booklist, October 1, 1994, Ronald Green, review of Memory and Dream, p. 246; January 1, 1997, Ronald Green, review of Trader, p. 826; January 1, 1998, Roland Green, review of Someplace to Be Flying, p. 785; December 1, 1998, review of Moonlight and Vines: A Newford Collection, p. 655; May 1, 2000, Patricia Monaghan, review of Forests of the Heart, p. 1655; March 15, 2002, Gillian Engberg, review of Seven Wild Sisters, p. 1218; August, 2003, Frieda Murray, review of Spirits in the Wires, p. 1967; December 15, 2004, Frieda Murray, review of Quicksilver & Shadow: Collected Early Stories, Volume 2: Contemporary and Dark Fantasy and Science Fiction, p. 715; March 15, 2006, Frieda Murray, review of Widder-shins, p. 35; May 15, 2007, Frieda Murray, review of Promises to Keep, p. 34; August, 2007, Debbie Carton, review of Little (Grrl) Lost, p. 64; May 15, 2008, Carolyn Phelan, review of Dingo, p. 51.

Globe and Mail (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), November 3, 1984, Douglas Hill, review of Moonheart: A Romance; January 11, 2003, review of Waifs and Strays; December 11, 2004, Donna Scanlon, review of The Blue Girl, p. D26.

Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 1998, review of Moonlight and Vines, p. 1636; August 15, 2002, review of Waifs and Strays, p. 1221; September 15, 2002, review of Tapping the Dream Tree, p. 1357; June 1, 2003, review of A Circle of Cats, p. 802; October 1, 2004, review of The Blue Girl, p. 959; March 15, 2006, review of Widdershins, p. 266; September 1, 2007, review of Little (Grrl) Lost; March 15, 2008, review of Dingo.

Kliatt, November, 2004, Janis Flint-Ferguson, review of The Blue Girl, p. 6; September, 2007, Clair Rosser, review of Little (Grrl) Lost, p. 10; May, 2008, Cara Chancellor, review of Dingo, p. 8.

Library Journal, January, 1998, Jackie Cassada, review of Someplace to Be Flying, p. 148; May 15, 2000, Jackie Cassada, review of Forests of the Heart, p. 128; December, 2001, Jackie Cassada, review of The Onion Girl, p. 180; August, 2003, Jackie Cassada, review of Spirits in the Wires, p. 140; December 1, 2004, Jackie Cassada, review of Quicksilver & Shadow, p. 105; August 1, 2007, Jackie Cassada, review of Promises to Keep, p. 76.

Locus, February, 1994, review of Dreams Underfoot, p. 75.

Publishers Weekly, December 7, 1990, Sybil Steinberg, review of The Little Country, p. 74; May 31, 1991, review of Café Purgatorium, p. 60; April 6, 1992, review of Spiritwalk, p. 55; February 22, 1993, review of Dreams Underfoot, p. 85; September 27, 1993, review of Into the Green, p. 49; October 3, 1994, review of Memory and Dream, p. 54; March 27, 1995, review of The Ivory and the Horn: A Newford Collection, p. 77; December 9, 1996, review of Trader, p. 65; January 26, 1998, review of Someplace to Be Flying, p. 74; December 21, 1998, review of Moonlight and Vines, p. 60; May 1, 2000, review of Forests of the Heart, p. 54; April 30, 2001, review of The Road to Lisdoonvarna, p. 59; October 22, 2001, interview with M.M. Hall, and review of The Onion Girl, p. 53; February 18, 2002, review of Seven Wild Sisters, p. 81; October 28, 2002, review of Tapping the Dream Tree, p. 56; June 16, 2003, "True Companions," review of A Circle of Cats, p. 73; July 7, 2003, review of Spirits in the Wires, p. 57; March 29, 2004, review of Medicine Road, p. 43; November 22, 2004, review of Quicksilver & Shadow, p. 43; December 20, 2004, review of The Blue Girl, p. 60; July 16, 2007, review of Promises to Keep, p. 150; August 13, 2007, review of Little (Grrl) Lost, p. 68; February 18, 2008, review of Dingo, p. 156.

Quill & Quire, February, 1998, review of Someplace to Be Flying, p. 35.

Resource Links, October, 2002, review of Seven Wild Sisters, p. 55; October, 2003, review of Waifs and Strays, p. 62; February, 2008, Joan Marshall, review of Little (Grrl) Lost, p. 29.

School Library Journal, October, 2003, Teri Markson and Stephen Samuel Wise, review of A Circle of Cats, p. 116; November, 2004, Sarah Couri, review of The Blue Girl, p. 141; November, 2007, Rhona Campbell, review of Little (Grrl) Lost, p. 118.

Science Fiction Chronicle, March, 1992, review of The Little Country, p. 20; February, 1999, review of Moonlight and Vines, p. 42.

Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 1997, review of Trader, p. 192; December, 1998, a review of Someplace to Be Flying, p. 366; April, 2001, review of Forests of the Heart, p. 50.

Washington Post Book World, March 15, 1998, review of Someplace to Be Flying, p. 9.