You can catch the wonderfully talented Kristin at festival on Sunday 22nd May at Sydney Dance Company Studio 4 - Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd Walsh Bay – on a panel with Judith Ridge from 11:30pm – 12:30pm.

Kristin will be in Sydney from 17-23 May, and in Melbourne from 23-31 May, and will be available for interview. Please reply to this email if you're interested.

Kristin Cashore

Kristin Cashore grew up in the countryside of north-eastern Pennsylvania in a village with cows and barns and beautiful views from the top of the hill. She lived in a rickety old house with her parents, three sisters, and a scattering of cats, and spent her days reading and daydreaming.

At 18 Kristin went off to college to Williams College in Williamstown. Kristin spent a phenomenal year studying literature at Sydney University. After college, Kristin developed a compulsive moving problem: New York City, Boston, Cambridge, Austin, Pennsylvania, Italy, and even a short stint in London.

During her stint in Boston, Kristin got an M.A. at the Centre for the Study of Children's Literature at Simmons College which got her thinking and breathing YA books, and, got her writing.

Since Simmons, Kristin hasn't stopped writing, not once. Kristin has been writing full-time for about 8 years now, first doing educational writing for the K-6 market and now working on her novels.

Kristin recently moved from Jacksonville, Florida, to Cambridge, Massachusetts

Praise for Fire:

"Cashore made a strong debut as a fantasy author with the release of Graceling last year. It was a fabulous read for young adults and up... Fire, another excellent fantasy work, demonstrates that Cashore is capable of sustained success. In fact, it is superior to her first novel in combining the same strengths with a greater depth of characterisation and complexity. Her books deserve to be regarded as two of the better fantasy works of recent years."—The Weekend Australian

"Cashore's sequel to Graceling ramps up the concept several more notches... an even more gripping tale of grief, love, hatred and conflict. Cashore's ability to develop interesting characters and more involving plot concepts has grown significantly."—Good Reading

"Cashore is the hottest new fantasy writer of the decade. Cashore has a talent for spinning a yarn that is unmatched by the plethora of fantasy authors out there right now, teaming this skill with an ability to write powerful characters that the reader falls in love, or hate, with, making the book impossible to put down.... Fire held me from start to finish, had me in tears at times and smiling at others. If Cashore continues to get better with each book, she will be at the top of the fantasy heap for a very long time to come."—ASIF

"[Cashore was] born to write fantasy. This girl is a natural. Original, intelligent and enthralling, this is a stupendous follow-up to Cashore's dazzling debut. I hope she keeps writing for at least four decades and I can't help wonder where her film deal is!"—Better Homes & Gardens

"Cashore works at shorter length than the usual fantasy blockbuster and is a genuine cut above it. Cashore writes vividly, and imbues the story with a sense of danger."—The Sunday Age

"Fire, a prequel to Graceling, possesses all the elements that made its award-winning predecessor so popular. Written in a style as simple and beguiling as an old folk tale, Fire gives us a richly thought-out imaginary world and a strong heroine who in no way resembles the Wonder Woman clone too often found in this kind of book."—Sun Herald

Praise for Graceling:

"A coming-of-age adventure tale. Cashore tells her story with wit and empathy."—The Canberra Times, 2 Jan (5 of the best teen reads)

"A well-written fantasy novel. It has enough violence and harrowing ordeal to set it apart from the typical adventure/romance of the genre, while still providing enough of these traditional aspects to engage the fantasy fan."—Ticonderoga

"Cashore has managed to create a fresh plot, interesting and endearing characters, and a rollicking and romantic read. Cashore has produced a terrific story of difference and power. With robust, well rounded characters whose journeys are tangled and challenging, Graceling is elegantly written with strong themes and a story that is new and outside the usual high fantasy fare, taking the genre to a new level."—ASIF

"This is not a fairy tale, it is dark and violent, but it is also an extraordinary tale of strength, love and humanity."—Better Homes & Gardens

"Cashore's prose is elegant. Graceling is a graphic, fast paced read, and Kristin Cashore a welcome addition to the ranks of fantasy writers."—Antipodean

"Happiness is cracking the spine of a debut novel and being awed. Graceling is great – kick-ass start, terrific heroine, good writing, great pace. It made me happy as both reader and writer."—Angela Slatter, Australian fantasy author

"This debut novel is sparkling high fantasy from beginning to end. The landscape is painted with bright, understated prose that enhances rather than slows the narrative. This is a terrific book."—Aurealis

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Brendan Fredericks | Publicist | Orion Division | Hachette Australia