R. J. Anderson
{{short description|Canadian writer}}
{{Infobox writer
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| name = Rebecca Joan Anderson
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| image = RJ Anderson - Eden Mills Writers Festival - 2016 - (DanH-0755) (cropped).jpg
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| caption = Anderson reading at the Eden Mills Writers' Festival in 2016
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| birth_place = Kampala, Uganda
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| notableworks = Faery Rebels
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| children = 3
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Rebecca Joan Anderson is a Canadian author of fantasy and science fiction for children and teens, including the Faery Rebels and Ultraviolet series. Anderson currently lives in Stratford, Ontario.{{Cite web|url = http://www.enclavepublishing.com/interview-with-r-j-anderson/|title = Interview with R.J. Anderson|date = 19 June 2015|access-date = 29 November 2015|website = Enclave Publishing|last = Busse|first = Morgan}}
Biography
Anderson was born in Uganda in 1970, and went to school in New Jersey.{{Cite web|url = http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/BiographiesDetailsPage/BiographiesDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=BIC1&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Biographies&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search_within_results=&p=BIC1&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CH1000198671&source=Bookmark&u=mlin_n_umass&jsid=2f73471c877ded738bec94212739b69f|title = Contemporary Authors Online|date = 2001|access-date = January 20, 2016|website = Biography In Context|publisher = Gale}} Anderson has three older brothers and is the daughter of a preacher. As a child, she would read many books to help her cope with bullying at her school. Her father introduced her to science fiction and fantasy, while her brothers introduced her to comic books. In June 2015, her father was 90; his health was declining due to Alzheimers.{{cite web|url=https://rj-anderson.com/continuum-11-goh-speech-the-whole-story/|title= Why I Love Books for Children and Teens: The Whole Story|work=rjanderson.com|date=Jun 12, 2015|last=Anderson|first=R.J.}} She is involved in her church as a pianist and a Bible study teacher. Anderson includes issues of Christian faith in some of her books, though Publishers Weekly states that she "generally handles her material without preaching."{{Cite web|url = http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-155477-3|title = Wayfarer|access-date = 29 November 2015|website = Publishers Weekly| date=June 2010 }} She is married and has 3 children.
Critical responses
Kirkus Reviews says that Anderson is "an assured storyteller with a knack for creating memorable characters."{{Cite journal|url = http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=65258747&site=ehost-live|title = Ultraviolet|date = 15 August 2011|journal = Kirkus Reviews|access-date = 29 November 2015|url-access=subscription |volume = 79|issue = 16|page = 1454}} Anderson has been praised for both series, with Knife (the first book in the Faery Rebels series) winning the Concorde Book Award in 2011 and nominated for a Carnegie Medal in 2009.{{cite web|title=Author helps reveal the winning book|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Author-helps-reveal-winning-book/story-11254600-detail/story.html|publisher=Bristol Post|access-date=30 November 2015}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2011, she was nominated for a Nebula Award for Ultraviolet.{{Cite web|url = https://www.sfwa.org/2012/05/2011-nebula-awards-announced/|title = 2011 Nebula Awards Announced|access-date = 29 November 2015|website = Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America| date=20 May 2012 }} Ultraviolet was shortlisted for the Andre Norton Award in 2012.{{Cite web|url = http://www.andre-norton-books.com/index.php/about-andre/in-andre-s-name|title = Awarded to Others in Andre's Name|access-date = 29 November 2015|website = Andre Norton Books}} She has been reviewed in CM: Canadian Review of Materials{{Cite journal|url = http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=53867794&site=ehost-live|title = Wayfarer|last = Higgins|first = Caroline|date = 3 September 2010|journal = CM: Canadian Review of Materials|access-date = 29 November 2015|issue = 1|volume = 17|page = 18|url-access=subscription }} and Canadian Children's Book News.{{Cite journal|url = http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=43929737&site=ehost-live|title = Sensual Fantasy Worlds|last = Goodall|first = Lian|date = 2009|journal = Canadian Children's Book News|access-date = 29 November 2015|volume = 32|issue = 3|pages = 24–26|url-access=subscription }} Booklist has called Ultraviolet, a story about a young adult synesthete, "a natural grabber for teens."{{Cite journal|url = http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=67719199&site=ehost-live|title = Ultraviolet|last = Yusko|first = Shauna|date = 2011|journal = Booklist|access-date = 29 November 2015|url-access=subscription |issue = 6|page = 56|volume = 108}} In 2010 the Canadian Library Association gave Spell Hunter the Honor Book designation.
Selected works
= [[Faery Rebels]] Series =
- Knife, Orchard (London, England), 2008, published as Spell Hunter, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2009. Republished 2015 as "Knife" by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC (Phoenix, AZ)
- Rebel, Orchard (London, England), 2009, published as Wayfarer, HarperTeen (New York, NY), 2010. Republished 2015 as "Rebel" by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC (Phoenix, AZ)
- Arrow, Orchard (London, England), 2011, {{ISBN|978-1408312629}}. First US publication 2016 (same title) by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC (Phoenix, AZ)
= Flight and Flame Trilogy =
- Swift, Orchard (London, England), 2012, {{ISBN|978-1408312636}} First US publication by Enclave Publishing 2020
- Nomad, Orchard (London, England), 2014, {{ISBN|978-1408326480}} First US publication by Enclave Publishing 2021
- Torch, Enclave Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2021, {{ISBN|978-1621841609}}
= Ultraviolet Series =
- Ultraviolet, Carolrhoda Books, 2013, {{ISBN|978-1467709149}}
- Quicksilver, Carolrhoda Books, 2013, {{ISBN|978-0761387992}}
= Uncommon Magic Series =
- A Pocket Full of Murder, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015, {{ISBN|978-1481437714}}
- A Little Taste of Poison, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016, {{ISBN|978-1481437745}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portalbar|Children and Young Adult Literature}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, R. J.}}
Category:Canadian fantasy writers
Category:Canadian women novelists
Category:Canadian children's writers
Category:People from Stratford, Ontario
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Canadian science fiction writers
Category:Canadian women science fiction and fantasy writers