Anne McCaffrey, The "Dragon Lady," "Mistress
of Pern," and the first woman author to win the top two science fiction
writing prizes, the Hugo and the Nebula award for Dragonflight, passed at age 85 on November 2st. Her book The White
Dragon became one of the first science fiction novels to reach
the New York Times Best Seller List.
The first time I picked up Dragonflight I was already devouring books and getting the seed of
an idea to write my own. I immediately became happily lost in the world of
Pern. No fairy tales here. No fantasy dragon story. Anne McCaffrey immersed me in
a complicated science fiction world with more depth than I, at first,
comprehended. I have to admit that I skipped over a lot of stuff and
concentrated on the dragons' stories.
Ahh, the dragons! Incredible flying creatures of all shapes,
sizes and colors. I couldn't get enough of them. I couldn't choose a favorite
because I loved them all
I sat down to write my own dragon stories. Lucky for the
reading world, those stories were eventually filed away in the garbage (LOL). But
they were FUN to write!
I never lost that fascination with Anne's dragons of Pern. I
devoured ---er---read all her books, and still dreamed of writing my own. Years,
and eight published books, later, I’ve set aside my cat-shifters (temporarily)
and written my own dragon story. Inspired by Anne, in Surrender Her Touch
I created a clan of dragon shapeshifters in a mountain compound, who mingle
with humans in the city below, but keep their heritage secret.
A heartfelt thanks to Anne McCaffrey who gave readers a
world of dragons that will live forever and inspired so many of us.
Happy Reading HUGS!
(Release date:
Dec. 7, 2011 -
Dec. 7, 2011 -
Paranormal
Romance
from Eternal Press).
from Eternal Press).
Sexy dragon-shifter Slade has to convince Summer, the only woman capable of healing dragon-shifters, to save his dragon ruler's life from a mysterious illness. Summer’s horrific memories convince her she would rather see them all dead.
A sensual love-hate romance filled with dragons, danger and death.
I already shed bitter tears when the Masterharper died, of course I cried when his creator died. I loved Anne, in a way you only can when you fall in love with a writer at a young age and grow with them.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Angel. Thanks for stopping by and sharing.
ReplyDeletehugs, Kari
I met Anne at Dragoncon and got my copy of Dragonflight, her first book, signed(I was only one of lucky forty as her arthritis was kicking in back then). I started the Dragons of perns books back in college in the 70s. I actually have the first story that became part of Dragonflight, in an anthology when took a scifi class when I returned to college back a few years. It came out in the 50s.
ReplyDeleteIn person, she was a lovely, funny lady, and one of authors who inspired me to be a writer back in the 70s.
I cried too when Masterharper died and now we have lost Anne the creator of that wonderful world.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was Dragonsong with Menolly and her singing fire lizards.
She was wonderful, wasn't she? And an inspiration to so many of us.
ReplyDeleteHave loved Pern and all or her works. I have a large collection of them on my shelves and often re-read them. These stories are forever Janet Lane Walters
ReplyDeleteThe Pern books inspired me to become a writer, and started my love of dragons, which continues to this day. I love F'lar and Lessa and Menolly and the huge, imaginative world she created. I would make up stories in my head based on those beloved characters, and eventually they found their way to paper. I also got to meet her in person a few years ago, and she signed the first two of my Harper Hall books. Now, my love of science fiction that she started finds its way into most of my books.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS everyone for stopping by and sharing. I heard her son will continue the books, but to me it just wont be the same. Sigh.
ReplyDeletehugs, Kari
I'm late with my post as so often happens, but I did want to stop by to honor Anne, whose groundbreaking body of work inspired fantasy writers everywhere. Thanks, Kari, for writing this well-deserved tribute.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS so much, Connie, for stopping by. She was a well loved author.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Kari