Holly Lisle

Holly Lisle is a successful American author, best known for her works in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She was born in 1960 and became a professional writer in 1991, a career path she chose after a childhood filled with adventure and exploration. Lisle's upbringing, which included exposure to diverse cultures, languages, and environments, has significantly influenced her writing, enabling her to create vivid and memorable worlds in her novels.

Since becoming a professional author, Lisle has written approximately thirty novels and numerous writing courses. She first gained recognition in 1991 when she won the Compton Crook Award for her debut novel, Fire in the Mist. Among her most popular works are her writing guides, such as Writing Fiction for Money and Love, which have helped aspiring writers hone their craft. Additionally, Lisle founded the Forward Motion, a writer's community, where she offers training and support to fellow writers.

Lisle's personal experiences often serve as inspiration for her writing. A notable example comes from her childhood in Alaska, where she and her father had a close encounter with a grizzly bear while hunting ducks. The experience made a lasting impact on Lisle, shaping her approach to storytelling and reminding her of the importance of creating memorable and engaging narratives. She carries this lesson with her as she continues to write and inspire aspiring authors through her work.
Faia Books
# Title Year
1 Fire in the Mist 1992
2 Bones of the Past 1993
3 Mind of the Magic 1995
Devils Books
# Title Year
1 Sympathy for the Devil 1995
2 Hell on High 1995
3 The Devil and Dan Cooley 1996
Glenraven Books (with Marion Zimmer Bradley)
# Title Year
1 Glenraven 1995
2 In the Rift 1998
Cadence Drake Books
# Title Year
1 Hunting the Corrigan's Blood 1997
2 Warpaint 2012
The Secret Texts Books
# Title Year
1 Diplomacy of Wolves 1998
2 Vengeance of Dragons 1999
3 Courage of Falcons 2000
4 Vincalis the Agitator 2002
The World Gates Books
# Title Year
1 Memory of Fire 2002
2 The Wreck of Heaven 2003
3 Gods Old and Dark 2004
Korre Books
# Title Year
1 Talyn 2005
2 Hawkspar 2008
Moon & Sun Books
# Title Year
1 The Ruby Key 2008
2 The Silver Door 2009
Tales From the Longview Books
# Title Year
1 Enter The Death Circus 2014
2 The Selling of Suzee Delight 2014
3 The Philosopher Gambit 2017
4 Gunslinger Moon 2017
5 Vipers' Nest 2018
6 The Owner's Tale 2018
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 Minerva Wakes 1990
2 The Rose Sea 1994
3 Mall, Mayhem and Magic 1995
4 Midnight Rain 2004
5 Last Girl Dancing 2005
6 I See You 2006
7 Night Echoes 2007
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 Light Through Fog 2012
2 Rewind 2013
Short Story Collections
# Title Year
1 Strange Arrivals 2013
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Holly Lisle's Create A Culture Clinic 2010
2 Holly Lisle's Create A Language Clinic 2010
3 Holly Lisle's Create A Plot Clinic 2010
4 Holly Lisle's How To Write Page-Turning Scenes 2010
5 Mugging the Muse 2012
6 Professional Plot Outline Mini-Course 2012
7 Create A Character Clinic 2013
8 Holly Lisle's Create A World Clinic 2014
The Bard's Tale Books (with Mercedes Lackey, with Josepha Sherman, with Mark Shepherd, with Aaron Allston)
# Title Year
1 Castle of Deception 1992
2 Fortress of Frost and Fire 1993
3 Prison of Souls 1993
4 The Chaos Gate 1994
5 Thunder of the Captains 1996
6 Wrath of the Princes: A Bard's Tale Novel 1997
7 Escape from Roksamur 1997
8 Curse of the Black Heron 1998
The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy Books
# Title Year
1 The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy: Alchemy with Words 2002
2 The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy: The Opus Magnus 2004
3 The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy: The Author's Grimoire 2007
SERRAted Edge Books
# Title Year
1 Born to Run 1992
2 Wheels of Fire 1992
3 When the Bough Breaks 1993
4 Chrome Circle 1994
5 Elvendude 1994
6 Spiritride 1997
7 Lazerwarz 1999
8 The Chrome Borne 1999
9 The Otherworld 2000
10 The Waters and the Wild 2005
11 Silence 2016
12 Breaking Silence 2020
Holly Lisle Anthologies
# Title Year
1 The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2009
2 The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance 2009
3 The Adventure of Creation 2013