Bestselling fantasy author Katherine Kurtz turned 77 on October 18, 2021. We love her books and want to help her celebrate!
Katherine Kurtz was born 18 October 1944 in Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, Florida. She grew up in Coral Gables and studied chemistry at the University of Miami.
Kurtz is best known for her Deryni books. Like Marvel’s Uncanny X-Men comic books, the Deryni books are allegories for inclusion and tolerance. She is the author of three fantasy series and a handful of independent books not part of any series.
The Deryni novels consist of five interrelated trilogies, set in the fictional kingdom of Gwynedd ranging from the 10th century to the 12th century, plus a handful of short stories.
Her Adept series, co-written with Deborah Turner Harris, are urban fantasy set in modern Scotland.
Her Templar series, also co-written with Deborah Turner Harris, are alternate history books with an occult emphasis, as is her WWII novel Lammas Night.
Thematically, her books focus on the intersectionality of magic, religion, philosophy, and ethics. She is one of the few female members of SAGA (the Swordsmen and Sorcerers Guild of America).
Katherine Kurtz was married to Scott MacMillan, author of Knights of the Blood, who passed away two years ago in 2019. They had lived in Ireland for two decades, but returned to the United States in 2007.
We wish her many more happy years and many more books and stories.
Summon minstrels with flute and lute,
Rejoice with drum and horn!
This is the day Katherine Kurtz was born!
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
Actually, Scott passed away last year or the year before.
Good catch, Jim. We’ve updated the article to suit.