Katherine Roberts

Infobox Writer
name = Katherine Roberts

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birthdate = Birth date and age|1962|2|12|mf=y
birthplace = Torquay, Devon, England
deathdate =
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occupation = Novelist
genre = Fantasy
movement =
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website = http://www.katherineroberts.com/

Katherine Roberts (born February 12, 1962) is an English author, best known for her fantasy trilogy The Echorium Sequence. She was born in Torquay, England and spent most of her childhood in Devon and Cornwall, England. She is the daughter of Derek Robert (an electrical engineer) and Dorothy Margaret (a teacher).

Biography

Early life

Katherine Roberts spent most of her childhood in Devon and Cornwall where she was born Katherine Roberts' biography at [http://www.knibb.net/roberts/biography.htm] ] . She first entered education at an infant school in Redruth (Cornwall), later on joining the Oldway County Primary School in Paignton (Devon) and then moving onto Torquay Girls' Grammar School (also in Devon). She graduated with a first degree in Mathematics from Bath University. Following on from that, she has had numerous jobs associated with programming computers, looking after racehorses and a job in a pet shop.

Writing career

In 1999, her first book "Song Quest" was published, winning the Branford Boase Award for children. She later published "Crystal Mask" (2001) and "Dark Quetzal" (2003) which were both in the same series.

In 2001, she published the first novel in the The Seven Fabulous Wonders series called "The Great Pyramid Robbery", which the "Sunday Express" said was "A terrific tale of plots, curses and evil forces set in ancient Egypt" Quotes on The Great Pyramid Robbery [http://www.knibb.net/roberts/great.htm] ] . This was followed on with "The Babylon Game" in 2002, which was said to be "Incredible... adventures that twist and turn and will have you spellbound on every page," by the Children's Book of the Week, South Wales Evening Post Quotes on The Babylon Game [http://www.knibb.net/roberts/babylon.htm] ] . The same year, the third book in the series, "The Amazon Temple Quest", was published, and in 2003, "The Mausoleum Murder" was also published. Following on from this, in 2004 and 2005, "The Olympic Conspiracy" and "The Colossus Crisis" were also published within the series. Recently, Katherine Roberts has also published "The Cleopatra Curse", bringing the series to a total of seven books.

Katherine Roberts has also produced other books such as "Spellfall", which "The Sunday Times" Children's Book of the Week said, "this magical and fantastical story from Roberts has lessons for real children about taking responsibility." Quotes on Spellfall [http://www.knibb.net/roberts/spellfall.htm] ] , Spell Wars (2000), and I am the Great Horse (2006).

She mainly writes within the fantasy genre, and she is currently encouraging local schools to interest children in creative writing.

Marriage and children

In 2005, she separated with her husband and now lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire. She moved to an old union workhouse where she says she is now even more compelled to "work hard" and "wake up early in the morning" Katherine Roberts' biography at [http://www.knibb.net/roberts/biography.htm] ] . She has had no children Katherine Roberts' FAQ [http://www.knibb.net/roberts/faq.htm] ] .

Author comments

She has commented on her website that; cquote|I've always loved telling stories! My first stories weren't even written down they were told to my little brother at bedtime. He was 4 and I was 7. Later, my parents bought me a typewriter (no computers in those days!) so I used that to make my stories look neat. But I didn't dare send anything off to a publisher until I was about 30 - and then it took me another 7 years to get my first book published.Katherine Roberts FAQ [http://www.knibb.net/roberts/faq.htm] ]

Her FAQ on her website also states that she does no research for some books mostly genre specific books only and she states that her average book takes 6 months to write. She comments that it takes several drafts of the books she writes to make sense as that is the way she works. She dislikes having a planned out plot and believes part of the fun of writing is feeling your way through the story Katherine Roberts FAQ [http://www.knibb.net/roberts/faq.htm] ] .

Bibliography

Katherine Roberts has written a range of books, mostly belonging to The Echorium Sequence and The Seven Fabulous Wonders series. She has also wrote several short stories.

The Echorium Sequence

* "Song Quest" (1999)
* "Crystal Mask" (2001)
* "Dark Quetzal" (2003)

The Seven Fabulous Wonders

* "The Great Pyramid Robbery" (2001)
* "The Babylon Game" (2002)
* "The Amazon Temple Quest" (2002)
* "The Mausoleum Murder" (2003)
* "The Olympic Conspiracy" (2004)
* "The Colossus Crisis" (2005)
* "The Cleopatra Curse" (2006)

Other books

* "Spell Wars" (2000)
* "Spellfall" (2001)
* "I am the Great Horse" (2006)

Awards

* Raconteur Award (1995) - "Across the Water"

* Story Cellar Award (1994) - "Mars Take Seed Make Man"

* Grotesque Readers Award (1996) - "Fatstock"

* Broadsword Fiction of the Year Award (1996) - "Under the Eyemoon"

* Branford Boase Award (2000) - "Song Quest"

Notes

External links

* [http://www.katherineroberts.com/ Katherine Robert's website]
* [http://conversationswithwriters.blogspot.com/2006/12/alexander-great-and-war-in-iraq.html Interview with Katherine Roberts]