Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn Kenyon (born December 11, 1965) is a bestselling US writer. Under her former married name, she wrote both urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She is best known for her Dark Hunter series. Under the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor she writes historical fiction with paranormal elements. Kenyon's novels have over 70 million copies in print in over 100 countries. Under both names, her books have appeared at the top of the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today lists, and they are frequent bestsellers in Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Biography
Sherrilyn Kenyon was born on 11 December 1965 in Columbus, Georgia. The fourth child in a family of five children, her parents, Harold and Malene Woodward, divorced when she was eight, at which point she lived with her grandparents. She describes her childhood as defined by abuse and poverty, but she remained close to her mother, who encouraged and shared her interest in horror, the paranormal and science fiction.
Kenyon started writing while in high school, in part as therapy to escape other aspects of her life. She went to Georgia College in the 1980's, and there she met her future husband, Lawrence Kenyon. They married in 1990, and they moved to Jackson, Mississippi, while he studied law. Although money was already tight, after their first child was born and he graduated they lost their house, subsequently forcing them to live out of their car until they were able to secure an apartment some months later.
Once in an apartment Kenyon was able to return to writing. Previously, Kenyon had published her first story in 1975, and in the mid 1980's she was a writer for the science fiction magazine, Cutting Edge. She had sold a number of books in the early 1990s, prior to the birth of her daughter, but her big break came in 1999 when the first two books of her "Dark-Hunter" sequence were picked up by St. Martin's Press as part of a three-book deal. She had started the series with short stories that she had written in 1984, and had started development on the novels in 1986, but it took until the late 1990's before she had the opportunity to complete them.
Accusations and divorce
On January 7, 2019, Kenyon filed a lawsuit against her husband and his assistants, claiming they had poisoned her over a number of years in order to sabotage her health to his financial gain. After her husband filed for divorce in March 2018, the suit alleges that tests concluded her levels of lithium, tin, barium, thorium and other metals were at a dangerous level of toxicity, indicating that they had "systematically poisoned her since 2015". Her husband's statement about the lawsuit called her "a brilliant fiction writer who has made it apparent that she cannot discern between fiction and reality". She dropped her lawsuit on July 26, 2019.
Bibliography
Novels and short stories may be listed repeatedly because many of her series share the same fictional universe.
Written (mostly) as Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dark-Hunter Universe (combined)
Each sub-set of the series is marked by the type of creatures the novel is about.
Dark Hunter Universe short stories
"Dragonswan"
"The Beginning"
"Phantom Lover"
"A Dark-Hunter Christmas"
"Winter Born"
"Second Chances"
"A Hard Day's Night-Searcher"
"Until Death We Do Part"
"The Wager"
"Fear the Darkness"
"Shadow of the Moon"
"Redemption"
"Where Angels Fear to Tread"
Dark Bites (St. Martin's Press, Jan 21, 2014) – A collection of the short stories/novellas that Kenyon has written for St. Martin's Press, featuring Fear the Darkness, with Nick as the lead, and updates on other characters. Available in print in mass market paperback.
House of the Rising Son – Dark Hunter Universe #26.5. Dream-Hunter #5.5
The story of Aricles & Bathymaas (more about them in Styxx's book)
Phantom Lover – V'Aidan's story that was first in "Midnight Pleasures"
Winter Born – Dante & Pandora (Were-Panthers) that was first in "Stroke of Midnight"
A Dark-Hunter Christmas – Gallagher (Dark-Hunter) originally posted online
Until Death Do We Part – originally published in "Love At First Bite" anthology
A Hard Day's Night Searcher – originally published in "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding" anthology
Shadow of the Moon – (Fury the wolf) originally published in Dead After Dark
Fear The Darkness – originally a digital download for fans. It is a little piece of Nick after his mother died.
Where Angels Fear to Tread – originally published in the "Blood Lite" anthology
Love Bytes – originally published in "Naughty or Nice"
Santa Wears Spurs – originally published in All I Want for Christmas anthology. Written as Kinley MacGregor
Redemption – A bonus scene from The Guardian
A Hero for The Holidays
Dark-Hunter Universe (by series)
Were-Hunter
Night Play, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2004)
Unleash the Night, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2005)
Dark Side of the Moon (St. Martin's Press, 2006, reprinted by St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2007)(Hardcover , Paperback )
Bad Moon Rising (St. Martin's Press, 2009, reprinted by St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2010) (Hardcover , Paperback )
No Mercy (St. Martin's Press, 2010, reprinted by St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2011) (Hardcover , Paperback )
Retribution (St. Martin's Press, 2011, reprinted by St. Martin's Paperbacks, Mar 27, 2012) (Hardcover , Paperback )
The Guardian (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2011)
Son of No One (St. Martin's Press, 2014)
Dragonbane (St. Martin's Press, 2015)
Dragonmark(St Martin's Press, August 2, 2016)
Dragonsworn (St. Martin's Press, August 4, 2017)
Shadows Within (TBD)
Savitar (TBD)
Dream-Hunter
The Dream-Hunter (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2007)
Upon the Midnight Clear (St. Martin's Paperback, 2007)
Dream Chaser (St. Martin's Paperback, 2008)
Dream Warrior (St. Martin's Press, 2009)
The Guardian (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2011)
Shadow Fallen (St. Martin's Press, 2022)
Queen of All Shadows (TBD)
Hellchaser/Hell-Hunter novels
Daemon's Angel, (Leisure, 1995)
Bad Moon Rising (St. Martin's Press, 2009, reprinted by St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2010) (Hardcover , Paperback )
The Guardian (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2011)
Time Untime (St. Martin's Press, 2012)
Son of No One (St. Martin's Press, 2014)
Dragonbane (St. Martin's Press, 2015)
Deadmen Walking (TOR, 2017)
Death Doesn't Bargain (TOR, 2018)
At Death's Door (TOR, 2019)
Lords Of Avalon
Notes: Begun as Kinley MacGregor. Continuing as Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Sword of Darkness, (2006)() (as Kinley MacGregor)
Knight of Darkness, (2006) (as Kinley MacGregor)
Darkness Within (2012)
Son of No One (St. Martin's Press, 2014) (as Sherrilyn Kenyon) (Sherrilyn explained at a Q & A that the LoA book Darkness Within morphed into Son of No One.)
Dragonbane (St. Martin's Press, 2015) (as Sherrilyn Kenyon)
Dragonmark (St. Martin's Press, 2016) (as Sherrilyn Kenyon)
Dragonsworn(St. Martin's Press, 2017) (as Sherrilyn Kenyon)
Battleborn (St. Martin's Press, August 4, 2018) (as Sherrilyn Kenyon)
Deadman's Cross
Part of three series: The Dark Hunter Universe, Hellchasers and Sea Wolves. They are historical fantasy.
Deadmen Walking (TOR, 2017)
Death Doesn't Bargain (TOR, May 15, 2018)
At Death's Door (TOR, Sep, 2019)
Dark Hunter Universe – The Chronicles Of Nick series (young adult)
The Chronicles Of Nick take place well before the first Dark Hunter novel (Fantasy Lover) and follows one of the series' main characters: Nick Gautier.
Infinity (St. Martin's Press, 2010)
Invincible (St. Martin's Griffin, 2011)
Infamous (St. Martin's Griffin, 2012)
Inferno (St. Martin's Griffin, 2013)
Illusion (St. Martin's Griffin, 2014)
Instinct (St. Martin's Griffin, 2015)
Invision (St. Martin's Griffin, 2016)
Intensity (Nemesis Publications, 2017)
Dark Hunter Universe – Shadows of Fire series (young adult)
Shadows of Fire is a four book continuation of CON. After this is finished there will be an as of yet untitled adult trilogy that will finish the story line.
Sabotage (2023)
Savage (TBD)
Sacrifice (TBD)
Sanctify (TBD)
Dark Hunter Universe – extras
Audio books
All books in the Dark Hunter series are available on Audio. (Macmillan Audio, Unabridged edition, as of June 30, 2014)
Supplements
The Dark-Hunter Companion, co-author Alethea Kontis (St. Martin's Griffin, 2007)
Dark-Hunter: An Insider's Guide, an enhanced ebook (Vook Inc., 2010)
Manga and graphic novels
Lords of Avalon Graphic Novels:
Sword of Darkness co-written by Robin Furth (Marvel) (Hardcover , September 18, 2008) (Paperback ISBN August 12, 2009)
Knight of Darkness written by Robin Furth (Marvel) (Hardcover , September 9, 2009)
The Dark Hunters Manga:
The Dark Hunter: Vol. 1 (St. Martin's Griffin, July 7, 2009)
The Dark Hunter: Vol. 2 (St. Martin's Griffin, March 2, 2010)
The Dark Hunter: Vol. 3 (St. Martin's Griffin, September 28, 2010)
The Dark Hunter: Vol. 4 (St. Martin's Griffin, March 1, 2011)
Comics
Sword of Darkness (6 issues)
Knight of Darkness (6 issues)
Omnibuses and boxed sets
Night Pleasures and Night Embrace (St. Martin's Griffin, September 29, 2005)
The Dark-Hunter Novels Boxed Set (Night Pleasures, Night Embrace, and Dance with the Devil) (St. Martin's Paperbacks, October 3, 2006)
The Dark-Hunter Novels Boxed Set (Night Pleasures, Night Embrace, Dance with the Devil, Kiss of the Night, and Night Play) (St. Martin's Paperbacks, September 28, 2010)
B.A.D. (Bureau of American Defense) Agency series
Novels
Bad Attitude, (Pocket Books, June 27, 2006) (Hardcover , Paperback )
Phantom in the Night, co-author Dianna Love (Pocket Star Books, June 10, 2008)
Whispered Lies, co-author Dianna Love (Pocket Books, May 12, 2009)
Silent Truth, co-author Dianna Love (Pocket Books, April 20, 2010)
Short stories
BAD to the Bone, in the anthology Big Guns Out of Uniform (2005)
Captivated By You, in the anthology Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down: Three Tales of Erotic Romance (2005)
Turn Up the Heat, in the anthology Playing Easy to Get (Pocket, 2006)
Just Bad Enough, short story, co-author Dianna Love, in anthology Deadly Promises (Pocket Star, 2010)
BAD Mission, short story in the anthology Thriller 3: Love is Murder (Mira, May 29, 2012)
Omnibuses
Born to Be B.A.D., a reprint of the BAD stories (BAD to the Bone and 'Captivated' by You) PLUS a new short story called One BAD Night (Pocket Books, August 30, 2005)
A B.A.D. Collection includes eBooks of Phantom in the Night, Whispered Lies, Silent Truth, and an excerpt from Alterant (Pocket Books, July 26, 2011)
The League series
The League series is divided into two generations. Generation 1 is Nemesis Rising. Generation 2 is Nemesis Legacy. This series combines the two to tell a story. It is recommended that you read them in the order listed below.
Combined reading order
Born of Night: The League - Nemesis Rising (St. Martin's Press, Oct 2009)
Born of Fire (St. Martin's Press, Nov 2009)
Born of Ice (St. Martin's Press, Dec 2009)
Fire and Ice (short story) in the anthology Man of My Dreams, published by Penguin Group US (2004); re-written & re-released in the anthology In Other World, published by Penguin Group (2010)
Born of Shadows (Grand Central Publishing, April 2011)
Born of Silence (Grand Central Publishing, May 2012)
Cloak & Silence (E-book published independently; CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform April 2013)
Born of Fury (St. Martin's Press, July 2014)
Born of Defiance (St. Martin's Press, May 2015)
Born of Betrayal (St. Martin's Press, November 2015)
Born of Legend (St. Martin's Press, May 2016)
Born of Vengeance (St. Martin's Press, May 2017)
Born of Trouble (St. Martin's Press, TBD)
Born of Darkness (St. Martin's Press, TBD)
Nemesis Rising
Born of Night (St. Martin's Press, Oct 2009)
Born of Fire (St. Martin's Press, Nov 2009)
Born of Shadows (Grand Central Publishing, April 2011)
Born of Silence (Grand Central Publishing, May 2012)
Cloak & Silence (E-book published independently; CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform April 2013)
Born of Fury (St. Martin's Press, July 2014)
Born of Defiance (St. Martin's Press, May 2015)
Born of Betrayal (St. Martin's Press, November 2015)
Born of Legend (St. Martin's Press, May 2016)
Born of Vengeance (St. Martin's Press, May 2017)
Born of Trouble (St. Martin's Press, TBD)
Born of Darkness (St. Martin's Press, TBD)
Nemesis Legacy
Born of Ice (St. Martin's Press, Dec 2009)
Fire and Ice (short story) in the anthology Man of My Dreams, published by Penguin Group US (2004); re-written & re-released in the anthology In Other World, published by Penguin Group (2010)
Born of Rage (short story) (2020)
Born of Blood (novella) (2022)
Nemesis Dynasty
Young adult spin-off series.
Born of Rebellion (TBD)
Eve of Destruction
Spin-off series
Eve of Destruction (2022)
Eve of Ruin (2023)
Eve of Havoc (TBD)
Eve of The Fallen (TBD)
Belador
The first four novels in this series are co-authored with Dianna Love. Later novels will be written solely by Dianna.
Novels
Blood Trinity (Pocket Books, Oct, 2010)
Alterant (Pocket Books, Sept, 2011)
The Curse (Pocket Books, Sept, 2012)
Rise of the Gryphon (Pocket Books, July, 2013)
Short story
Fire Bound, free e-short story (Pocket After Dark, 2011)
Silent Swans series
The Cecilian Swan (Coming soon)
Swans of Feather (Coming soon)
War of the Swans (Coming soon)
Nevermore series
Insurrection (Mighty Barnacle, LLC, 2017)
Omega Rising (Coming soon)
Crimson Dawn (Coming soon)
Midnight's Last Gleaming (Coming soon)
Other works
Novels
Daemon's Angel (Leisure Books, 1995)
Novellas
Love Bytes, in the anthology Naughty or Nice (St. Martin's Press, 2000)
Knightly Dreams, in the anthology What Dreams May Come (Penguin Group, 2005)
Essays
"The Search of Spike's Balls", in Seven Seasons of Buffy edited by Ben Bella
"Parting Gifts", in Five Seasons of Angel edited by Glenn Yeffeth
Non-fiction
The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Middle Ages, (Writer's Digest, 1995)
The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference: An Indispensable Compendium of Myth and Magic, (Writer's Digest, 2000)
The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, with Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet
The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, 2nd ed.
Written (mostly) as Kinley MacGregor
Published by Avon (HarperCollins Publishers) unless noted otherwise. Some of these appear in multiples because they happen in the same universe.
Lords Of Avalon
Sword Of Darkness (Part of the Dark-Hunter Universe)
Knight Of Darkness (Part of the Dark-Hunter Universe)
The Sea Wolves series
Master of Seduction, (2000)
A Pirate of Her Own, (2004)
Deadmen Walking (2017) *As Sherrilyn Kenyon
Death Doesn't Bargain *As Sherrilyn Kenyon
At Death's Door *As Sherrilyn Kenyon
Brotherhood of the Sword series
Includes the entire MacAllister's Series.
Master of Desire, (2001)
Claiming the Highlander, (2002)
Born in Sin, (2003)
Taming the Scotsman, (2003)
A Dark Champion, (2004)
Return of the Warrior, (2005)
The Warrior, (2007)
Midsummer's Knight, in the anthology Where's My Hero? (2003)
The MacAllisters series
Master of Desire, (2001)
Claiming the Highlander, (2002)
Born in Sin, (2003)
Taming the Scotsman, (2003)
The Warrior, (2007)
Other novellas
Santa Wears Spurs, in the anthology All I Want for Christmas (St. Martin's Press, 1999)
Awards
Sherrilyn McQueen has received nominations and awards both under her married name Sherrilyn Kenyon and as Kinley MacGregor.
Prism Award
Best Fantasy – Fantasy Lover
Best Light Paranormal – Night Pleasures
Prism Award (2004)
Best Dark Paranormal – Dance with the Devil
Best Light Paranormal – Night Embrace
The Golden Quill for Best Paranormal, Dance with the Devil
Darrell Awards (2006)
Best Novel – Sins of the Night
Bestseller lists
Sins of the Night was #5 on Amazon.com's bestselling books of 2005. Fantasy Lover and Night Pleasures are #6 and #7 respectively for the best of the decade so far.
Devil May Cry was #2 on 'New York Times Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List (week ended August 11, 2007)
No Mercy on the New York Times Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List
References
External links
American fantasy writers
American romantic fiction writers
American women novelists
Novelists from Tennessee
Writers from Columbus, Georgia
1965 births
Living people
21st-century American novelists
Women science fiction and fantasy writers
Women romantic fiction writers
21st-century American women writers
Novelists from Georgia (U.S. state)
Pseudonymous women writers
21st-century pseudonymous writers
20th-century pseudonymous writers