Ardath Mayhar

Ardath Mayhar
Born	Ardath Frances Hurst February 20, 1930 Timpson, Texas, U.S.
Died	February 1, 2012 (aged 81) Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S.
Pen name	Frank Cannon Frances Hurst John Killdeer
Occupation	Writer
Nationality	US
Genre	Science fiction

Ardath Frances Hurst Mayhar (February 20, 1930 – February 1, 2012) was an American writer and poet. She began writing science fiction in 1979 after returning with her family to Texas from Oregon. She was nominated for the Mark Twain Award, and won the Balrog Award for a horror narrative poem in Masques I.

She had numerous other nominations for awards in almost every fiction genre, and won many awards for poetry. In 2008 she was honored by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America as an Author Emeritus.^[1][2]

Mayhar wrote over 60 books ranging from science fiction to horror to young adult to historical to westerns; with some work under the pseudonyms Frank Cannon, Frances Hurst, and John Killdeer.^[3][4] Joe R. Lansdale wrote simply: "Ardath Mayhar writes damn fine books!"^[5]

Mayhar also shared her knowledge of the skills of writing with many people through the Writer's Digest correspondence courses.

Personal life

Mayhar owned and operated The View From Orbit Bookstore in Nacogdoches, Texas, with her husband Joe until his death in the 1999.^[3] She later sold the bookstore, which served the students of Stephen F. Austin State University and people in the East Texas area, providing a wide variety of books and literature as well as Joe's computer services that would otherwise have been unavailable to this region.^[2] Until her health began failing, her reputation was such that she still spoke regularly in the area, drawing large crowds whenever she taught and spoke.

Bibliography

She is the author or co-author of:

Novels The Absolutely Perfect Horse BattleTech: The Sword and the Dagger. Blood Kin Bloody Texas Trail Exile on Vlahi Far Horizons Feud At Sweetwater Creek Golden Dream: A Fuzzy Odyssey[6] Gyldendal High Mountain Winter How the Gods Wove in Kyrannon Hunters of the Plains The Island in the Lake Khi to Freedom Lords of the Triple Moons Makra Choria Medicine Walk Monkey Station ^† Passage West People of the Mesa A Place of Silver Silence A Road of Stars Runes of the Lyre

Novels continued The Saga of Grittel Sundotha Seekers of Shar-Nuhn Slewfoot Sally and the Flying Mule Soul-Singer of Tyrnos Texas Gunsmoke Timber Pirates Towers of the Earth Trail of the Seahawks ^† The Untamed The Wall Warlock's Gift Wild Country Wilderness Rendezvous Witchfire ^† The World Ends in Hickory Hollow Story collections The Collected Stories of Ardath Mayhar Mean Little Old Lady at Work Dark Regions Poetry collections Journey to an Ending Reflections

^† With Ron Fortier

References

1. "Book News: Nebula and Triangle Awards Presented". Library Journal. May 7, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
2. "Ardath Mayhar (1930-2012)". Locus. February 1, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
3. Biffle, Kent (October 23, 1988). "Author's Eerie Tales Are Meant To Be Read With The Lights On". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
4. Reaves, Dick J. (February 7, 2003). "Two writers witness shuttle horror story; They heard, felt boom in East Texas". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
5. Lansdale, Joe R. (January 17, 2001). "Joe R. Lansdale - Hot Stuff!". Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
6. MacFadden, Lee; MacFadden, J.J. (March 1, 2009). "'Golden Dream' Is An Interesting Read". Bristol Herald Courier. Retrieved February 1, 2012.

External links

• Ardath Mayhar at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• The Gashta Homepage Includes a Bio & an Article Ardath wrote on writing Golden Dream
• Ardath Mayhar works & awards Website co-designed by Mrs. Mayhar detailing her career as author of novels, articles, short stories and as an artist in watercolor.