Lucy Hounsom
Lucy Hounsom | |
---|---|
Born | Lucy Claire Hounsom April 1986 |
Pen name | Lucy Holland |
Occupation | Author |
Alma mater | Royal Holloway, University of London |
Lucy Claire Hounsom (born April 1986) is a British author of fantasy and myth, who also writes under the name Lucy Holland.[1] She is best known for her 2021 novel, Sistersong. She also co-hosts British Fantasy Award-winning[2] feminist podcast Breaking the Glass Slipper.[3]
Biography
[edit]Hounsom grew up in the Thames Valley[4] of Berkshire and attended Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead.[5] Though she initially trained as an actress and dancer, Hounsom wrote stories from an early age, and named Alan Garner, Tolkien, Terry Pratchett and David Eddings as her influences.[6] She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London.[7] She then pursued a Master of Arts (MA) under Andrew Motion.[8]
Hounsom worked as a bookseller for Waterstones for twelve years before becoming a full-time author.[3] Her debut novel Starborn was published by Tor after having been discovered by an intern on an agent's slush pile.[6] It was followed by two further novels, Heartland and Firestorm, completing the Worldmaker Trilogy.
Under the pen name Lucy Holland, she went on in 2021 to write Sistersong, a novel loosely based on the child ballad Twa Sisters,[9] which was followed in 2024 by Song of the Huntress.
In 2009, Hounsom moved to Sidmouth, Devon with her parents.[4] Her younger sister, also a novelist, writes under the name Laura Madeleine.[10]
Themes
[edit]Hounsom's writing covers themes such as gender roles,[11] reimagining myths,[12] and the different concepts of heroism,[13] as well as "the search for identity, and our lost connection with nature."[14]
Reception
[edit]Starborn was shortlisted in the 2016 Gemmell Awards for Best Fantasy Debut.[7] The Independent listed it among the best fantasy debuts of 2015.[15] Sistersong was a finalist for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award[16] and the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 2022.[17] The AU Review describes it as: "authentic and well researched... the writing is as strong and beautiful as you could hope for, and the folkloric end result is fantastic."[18]
Bibliography
[edit]The Worldmaker Trilogy
[edit]- 2015: Lucy Hounsom (2015). Starborn: The Worldmaker Trilogy: Book One. Tor. p. 300. ISBN 978-1447268451.
- 2017: Lucy Hounsom (2017). Heartland: The Worldmaker Trilogy: Book Two. Pan. p. 496. ISBN 9781447268628.
- 2017: Lucy Hounsom (2017). Firestorm: The Worldmaker Trilogy: Book Three. Pan. p. 512. ISBN 978-1509840519.
Standalones
[edit]- 2021: Lucy Holland (2021). Sistersong. Macmillan. p. 416. ISBN 978-1529039030.
- 2024: Lucy Holland (2024). Song of the Huntress. Macmillan. p. 432. ISBN 978-1529077407.
References
[edit]- ^ "Lucy Holland". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ "sfadb : British Fantasy Awards All Nominees". www.sfadb.com. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ a b Hounsom, Lucy (2024-03-28). "Yes, we're also authors – with Lucy and Charlotte | Breaking the Glass Slipper". Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ a b "Sibling rivalry, murder and transformation feature in Sidmouth author's latest book". Sidmouth Herald. 2021-04-05. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ "Alumni". Redroofs School for the Performing Arts. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Author Interview: Lucy Hounsom". Book Club Forum. 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ a b "About | Lucy Hounsom". 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ "Lucy Hounsom". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ Schwizer, Fabienne (2021-01-02). "REVIEW: Sistersong by Lucy Holland". Grimdark Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ "Event: Winstone's Sidmouth". Laura Madeleine. 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ Hughes, Sarah (2015-04-12). "Feeding the Hunger – female writers are storming the male citadels of sci-fi". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "Interviewing Lucy Hounsom — Runalong The Shelves". Run Along the Shelves. 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Yon, Mark (2015-03-07). "Interview: Lucy Hounsom – SFFWorld". Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ "Sibling rivalry, murder and transformation feature in Sidmouth author's latest book". Sidmouth Herald. 2021-04-05. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ Barnett, David (2015). "Female SFF Writers you should read now". The Independent.
- ^ locusmag (2022-08-01). "2022 Glass Bell Award Shortlist". Locus Online. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Lucy Holland". Redruth Book Feast. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ Sloan, Jodie (2021-08-11). "Book Review: Lucy Holland's Sistersong is a compelling folkoric fantasy, perfect for fans of Circe". The AU Review. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- Living people
- 1986 births
- Alumni of Royal Holloway, University of London
- British women podcasters
- British women science fiction and fantasy writers
- English fantasy writers
- English women novelists
- People educated at Redroofs Theatre School
- Writers from Berkshire
- Writers of historical fiction set in antiquity
- British writers of young adult literature
- British podcasters
- British women writers of young adult literature