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J. Kathleen Cheney

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/Jkathleencheney

born

October 19, 1964 in The United States

gender

female

website

http://www.jkathleencheney.com

twitter username

jkcheney

genre

Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance, Mystery & Thrillers

influences

Georgette Heyer, Ansen Dibell, C-J Cherryh, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha ...more

member since

June 2008

About this author

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J. Kathleen Cheney is nothing if not versatile in her story telling. But, weaving through her work is a common thread, that of the improbable heroine. From worlds set in humanity’s distant post-apocalyptic future to alternate worlds of today or of the near past, Kathleen’s heroines include a siren who with help from a gentleman of the city must stop a regicidal plot, the neglected daughter of an absent king coming to terms with her shapeshifting ancestors, a blind teenager who dreams of others’ deaths and who uses her gift of touch to find their killers, and the widow of a trainer who with a most unusual horse must save her farm and way of life. All use their unusual gifts and talents to overcome obstacles and find their place in the world....more J. Kathleen Cheney is nothing if not versatile in her story telling. But, weaving through her work is a common thread, that of the improbable heroine. From worlds set in humanity’s distant post-apocalyptic future to alternate worlds of today or of the near past, Kathleen’s heroines include a siren who with help from a gentleman of the city must stop a regicidal plot, the neglected daughter of an absent king coming to terms with her shapeshifting ancestors, a blind teenager who dreams of others’ deaths and who uses her gift of touch to find their killers, and the widow of a trainer who with a most unusual horse must save her farm and way of life. All use their unusual gifts and talents to overcome obstacles and find their place in the world.

In 2005 Kathleen decided to pursue writing as a full-time endeavor and has since enjoyed seeing her stories published in Shimmer, The Sword Review, and Baen’s Universe. Her novella “Iron Shoes” was a 2011 Nebula nominee. Kathleen twice attended the summer Writer’s Workshop at the Center for the Study of Science Fiction under the tutelage of James Gunn. She lists C. J. Cherryh, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Georgette Heyer among the writers who influenced her most–as well as Ansen Dibell, whose ghostly fingerprints can be seen all over her work.

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Kathleen’s parents actually were rocket scientists (they worked at White Sands Missile Range), which made for interesting dinner-time conversations. After graduating with degrees in English and Marketing she worked as a menswear buyer for retail department store chains before changing careers to become a teacher, where she taught mathematics ranging from 7th Grade Arithmetic up to Calculus. Kathleen also served a brief stint as a Gifted and Talented Specialist. She coached the Academic Team and the Robotics Team and was the Chess Club sponsor.

When not writing, Kathleen likes to don a mask and get sweaty fencing, both foil and saber. Quieter hobbies include putting on her Wellingtons and getting her hands dirty in the garden. She also enjoys traveling and taking care of her dogs. Two large, hairy, dogs.

Her first novel, "Of Ambergris, Blood, and Brandy" will be published by Ace Books in Fall 2013.(less)

42 posts
J. Kathleen Cheney's Blog

It’s official now…

Publisher’s Weekly just ran the announcement about my book deal:

OF AMBERGRIS, BLOOD, AND BRANDY a novel of fantasy, suspense, and romance in an alternate turn-of-the-century Portugal in which races of shape-shifters live in secret, and a fantastical underwater work of art and a psychopathic killer become tangled in a string of murders that threaten the stability of the entire nation to Kat Sh...

View more on J. Kathleen Cheney's website »

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Published on May 15, 2012 15:14

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combine editions
Books by J. Kathleen Cheney

Average rating: 3.78 · 72 ratings · 17 reviews · 8 distinct works

	Iron Shoes 3.17 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2011	My rating:
	Snow Comes to Hawk's Folly 3.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2011	My rating:
	The Dragon's Child:Two Short Stories 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2011	My rating:
	A Hand for Each: Three Short Stories 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011	My rating:
	Touching the Dead 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011	My rating:
	The Dragon's Child: Two Short Stories 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011	My rating:
	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 24 by Algis Budrys (Editor / Contributor), L. Ron Hubbard (Creator), Robert Castillo (Contributor) 3.90 avg rating — 39 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Strange Worlds of Lunacy by Lyndon Perry (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Crystalwizard (Goodreads Author) (Editor), James K. Bowers (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2008	My rating:

More books by J. Kathleen Cheney…

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J.'s Recent Updates

J. Kathleen Cheney wrote a new blog post: It’s official now… It’s official now… Publisher’s Weekly just ran the announcement about my book deal: OF AMBERGRIS, BLOOD, AND BRANDY a novel of fantasy, suspense, and romance in an a... read more »
May 15, 2012 11:31pm · like
J. added: Iron Shoes by J. Kathleen Cheney (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Dec 31, 2011 01:33pm
J. gave to: Tricks of the Trade (Paranormal Scene Investigations #3) by Laura Anne Gilman (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Nov 30, 2011 06:08pm
J. gave to: Pack of Lies (Paranormal Scene Investigations #2) by Laura Anne Gilman (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Nov 30, 2011 06:07pm
J. gave to: Hard Magic (Paranormal Scene Investigations #1) by Laura Anne Gilman (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Nov 30, 2011 06:07pm
J. added: The Dragon's Child: Two Short Stories by J. Kathleen Cheney (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Nov 30, 2011 06:04pm
J. gave to: Maledicte (Antyre, #1) by Lane Robins	My rating:
Oct 08, 2009 05:33pm
J. made a comment on Catherine Knutsson's review of Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain "I'm reading this one, too.... "
Oct 08, 2009 05:32pm · see review
J. marked as to-read: Shadows Cast By Stars by Catherine Knutsson (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Oct 07, 2009 12:43pm
J. gave to: On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Dave Grossman read in May, 2009	My rating:
May 29, 2009 11:52am