K. D. Wentworth

K. D. Wentworth was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and, in a subsequent dizzying tour of the nation, managed to attend thirteen different schools by the time she graduated from high school in upstate New York. Returning to Oklahoma to attend the University of Tulsa, she earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts and has had the sense to stay put ever since. She has taught elementary school for more years than she cares to admit, and in the process has made cafeteria riot patrol into a fine art. She got her start winning in the Writers of the Future Contest in 1988, and then later won the Field Publications Teachers as Writers Award in 1991. She has sold over fifty short stories to such markets as Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Return to the Twilight Zone, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Chicks and Chained Males, and Realms of Fantasy. Her first three novels, The Imperium Game, Moonspeaker, and House of Moons, have just been reprinted by Hawk. A fourth novel, Black/on/Black, was published by Baen in February, 1999. The sequel to Black/on/Black, titled Stars/over/Stars, will be published in 2001, as well as a third book in the House of Moons series. Two of her short stories have been Nebula finalists in recent years. She attributes her success to having a very large dog and a wonderful husband, not necessarily in that order.

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This Fair Land

After Columbus's defeat by native magic, all of Europe schemed to wrest this untouched land of untold riches from its inhabitants - by any means possible. They sent missionaries to convert the heathens, and thus destroy their magic. In 1763, Father DeClan Connolly is sent out of Ireland by the British to aid in the conversion of the Tsalagi, a savage tribe who are known to ride fierce dogs as large as ponies. He comes to this New World with a pure heart, seeking only to serve God. But he discovers to his horror that he has a natural talent - indeed, a remarkable gift - for native magic.

Father Connolly finds himself caught up in a struggle between cultures, as mystic forces are set in motion which neither side can fully control. Connolly must decide whether to deny his unwanted ability - thereby saving his immortal soul - or to accept his talents and fight the gods themselves to save humanity.

"This Fair Land is an intriguing look at a very different 'New World'... K.D. Wentworth writes with a sure sense of place and a powerful respect for land and culture. I highly recommend this life-affirming story." - Kate Elliot, author of King's Dragon and Jaran

"K.D. Wentworth's This Fair Land is a powerful, beautiful novel about what we lose when we lose wilderness - our humanity; and it is about what we gain when we transcend our limits - the world, and new eyes with which to see it." - Kathleen Ann Goonan, author of Light Music





Moonspeaker

In this thrilling science fiction classic, acclaimed writer K.D. Wentworth sets the stage for her groundbreaking House of Moons series, introducing Haemas Sennay Tal - the Moonspeaker. Daughter of one of the most powerful families of the mindtalented Kashi, Haemas lived a life of privilege until her life was shattered by a brutal attack on her father - and the accusation that she committed the heinous crime. Forced to flee across the forsaken Barrier, she learns that her father's death was only a small part of a much larger plot to destroy the fabric of reality itself. Haemas must master her extraordinary mindtalents before she is killed - and the fabric of the world is torn asunder.

"K.D. Wentworth is an uncommonly good writer. If you value a striking tale very well told, you need look no further." - Algis Budrys, author of Rogue Moon

"I recommend Moonspeaker to readers who love good fantasy with intriguing aliens, lots of magic, [and] appealing protagonists..." - Sherwood Smith, author of the Wren series