Amanda Downum

Amanda Downum is an American fantasy author best known for her Necromancer Chronicles trilogy: The Drowning City, The Bone Palace (2010), and Kingdoms of Dust (2012). For these novels, which explore of LGBT topics and characters, she was nominated for the Gaylactic Spectrum Award, David Gemmell Award, and James Tiptree, Jr. Award. Downum’s books consist of themes relating to identity, gender roles and sexuality, death, secrets and social stratification.

Early life Amanda Downum was born on July 15, 1979 into a middle-class family in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Downum's parents would read Downum fantasy/science fiction authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Ursula K. Le Guin and, Madeleine L'Engle. As Downum grew older, she formed a Goth persona from reading novels such as The Hobbit and Prince Caspian and reading H. P. Lovecraft's horror novels. and her first attempt at writing a novel was in high school. Many of her present characters and events were created/drawn from her early unpublished writings and/or childhood memories. Her three favorite contemporary authors and biggest influences are Barbara Hambly, Elizabeth Bear, and Caitlin R. Kiernan. According to Downum, her focus in fantasy should primarily be credited to her mother, who read the young Downum numerous fantasy novels, including Tolkien, Lewis, Le Guin, and L'Engle. Later on in her life, Hurricane Katrina coupled with her experiences living in Asia inspired her to write The Drowning City, book one in her Necromancer Chronicles trilogy. She has traveled to Indonesia and Micronesia and has spent time in Missouri, Arizona, California, and Colorado. Although Downum does not speak often on politics or religion in any of her blogs or interviews, some of the organizations and associations that she supports include The National Association to Protect Children, RAINN, Lambda Legal, and Amnesty International. Among other things, Downum creates jewelry for her brand Still So Strange Studios;