Robin McKinley

Robin McKinley, born November 16, 1952, is an American author primarily known for her fantasy novels and reworkings of fairy tales. Her career began with the publication of "Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast," which quickly brought her recognition. She has been honored with numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal for "The Hero and the Crown" in 1985, and was named a Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association in 2022.

McKinley's writing often features strong female protagonists who actively shape their own destinies, a theme she attributes to a perceived scarcity of such characters in fantasy literature. Her works frequently draw inspiration from classic fairy tales and folklore, offering modern interpretations. She has also penned original fantasy novels set in imaginary worlds like Damar, as well as standalone stories. McKinley has co-authored collections with her late husband, Peter Dickinson, focusing on elemental spirits.

Born Jennifer Carolyn Robin McKinley on November 16, 1952, in Warren, Ohio, she is the daughter of William McKinley, a Navy officer, and Jeanne Turrell McKinley, a teacher. Due to her father's naval assignments, McKinley spent her formative years in various locations, including California, New York, Japan, and Maine. She attended Gould Academy, a preparatory school in Maine, before pursuing higher education. She studied at Dickinson College from 1970 to 1972 and later graduated summa cum laude from Bowdoin College in 1975.

Following her graduation, McKinley worked in Maine as a research assistant and in a bookstore while developing her first novel, "Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast." This debut was met with immediate success, earning accolades such as an American Library Association Notable Children's Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. McKinley's writing is characterized by its exploration of classic fairy tales, often reimagined with a feminist perspective. Her protagonists are typically strong women who drive their own narratives rather than awaiting rescue. Examples include "Beauty" and "Rose Daughter" (based on Beauty and the Beast), "Spindle's End" (Sleeping Beauty), and "Deerskin" (drawing from other folktales). She also wrote "The Outlaws of Sherwood," her take on the Robin Hood legend.

McKinley is also known for creating the imaginary land of Damar, the setting for her novels "The Blue Sword" and "The Hero and the Crown." Stories within the "Imaginary Lands" anthology and her collection "A Knot in the Grain" are also situated in this world. Her standalone novels include "Sunshine" (2003), "Dragonhaven" (2007), and "Shadows" (2013). McKinley has expressed a strong belief in the potential of girls to be active agents in stories, noting a deficiency in such representation within fantasy literature. Her heroines are depicted as steadfast, valuing faithfulness, duty, and honor in both romance and adventure, as described by biographer Marilyn H. Karrenbrock.

Robin McKinley's contributions to literature have been widely recognized. She received a Newbery Honor for "The Blue Sword" in 1983 and the prestigious Newbery Medal for "The Hero and the Crown" in 1985. The World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology/Collection was awarded to "Imaginary Lands" in 1986, which she edited. Further honors include a Phoenix Award Honor Book for "Beauty" in 1998 and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature for "Sunshine" in 2004. In 2022, she was inducted as the 39th Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, acknowledging her significant impact on the genre.