Erin Hunter

Erin Hunter is a collective pseudonym used by the authors Victoria Holmes, Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Clarissa Hutton, Inbali Iserles, Tui T. Sutherland, and Rosie Best in the writing of several juvenile fantasy novel series which focus on animals and their adventures. Notable works include the Warriors, Seekers, Survivors, Bravelands, and Bamboo Kingdom book series. For each book, Holmes creates the plot and the others take turns writing the books. Dan Jolley, though not an official Erin Hunter author, also writes the stories for manga published under the Hunter name. James L. Barry, Bettina M. Kurkoski, and Don Hudson are included under the pseudonym as the illustrators of the Warriors mangas. Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter are also included as the illustrators of the upcoming graphic novel adaptation of The Prophecies Begin.
History
In 2003, HarperCollins asked Victoria Holmes to write a fantasy series about feral cats, but, not being a reader of fantasy, she was less than enthusiastic despite her love of cats. After writing one storyline, Kate Cary was brought in to write the book as Holmes went behind the scenes to supervise details and edit the book. When the third Warriors book, Forest of Secrets, was being drafted, Cherith Baldry joined the Erin Hunter team. Tui T. Sutherland wrote the first Warriors field guide and became the fourth person under the name.
The name "Erin Hunter" was chosen for several reasons. If the authors used all of their own names, the books would be placed in different locations in a library, making them hard to find. Additionally, they wanted to pick a surname that would place the books very close to the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, which is a book series with a similar plot to Warriors. One of the authors suggested "Hunter", and the others felt that it was "perfect", because not only did it place the book series close to Jacques, but it evokes the image of a cat. Victoria Holmes suggested ‘Erin' because she liked the name. One of Victoria Holmes's favorite names is Erin, and it was accepted for being a strong Celtic name and "not particularly girly".
Members
Victoria Holmes
Victoria Holmes was born in Berkshire, England. Holmes was the creator of Warriors, being the person whom HarperCollins originally requested to write it. After inviting Kate Cary to do the actual writing of the series, she moved behind the scenes to help edit and supervise details.
Holmes grew up on a farm in England. Later, she attended the University of Oxford, whose buildings "inspired an interest in history". She now lives in London, where she works as the editor for the series.
In 2011, the Bookperk website ran a special for signed copies of Sign of the Moon. Because Erin Hunter is not an actual person, these books were instead signed by Victoria Holmes.
Following a diagnosis of cancer in 2017, Holmes stepped back from her involvement in Warriors.
Kate Cary
Kate Cary was the first author brought on board to write for the Warriors series. Holmes chose Cary to write the first Warriors book after Holmes had finished the storyline. She has written many of the books in the main arcs, as well as several Super Editions.
She was born in England on 4 November 1967. She later moved to Scotland where she lived for 12 years before going back to England, where she currently resides. Besides the Warriors series, she has also written the book Bloodline, and its sequel, Reckoning.
Cherith Baldry
Cherith Baldry was the second author brought to the Erin Hunter team. She was born on 21 January 1947 in Lancaster, England. She studied at the University of Manchester and St. Anne's College, Oxford. Holmes invited her to join when they were writing the third Warriors book, Forest of Secrets, after seeing her writing style and feeling that it was similar to Kate Cary's.
Tui T. Sutherland
Tui T. Sutherland was born on 31 July 1978 in Caracas, Venezuela. She currently lives in the United States. Her first credit to the Erin Hunter team was the field guide Secrets of the Clans. She wrote several other Warriors guides, as well as the first book in the Seekers series. Sutherland was also an editor of the Warriors series, until she quit editing to become a full-time writer. She went on to write the novel series Wings of Fire, among several other series.
Inbali Iserles
Inbali Iserles was born in Israel and is the author of the third, fifth and sixth books of the Survivors series: Darkness Falls, The Endless Lake and Storm of Dogs. She also publishes animal fantasy novels under her own name, including The Tygrine Cat and the Foxcraft trilogy.
Gillian Philip
Gillian Philip was born on 2 July 1964, and is the author of several books in the Survivors and Bravelands series. She lives in the northeast Scottish Highlands. Philip has toured the United States twice as the face of the Erin Hunter responsible for Survivors. In addition to Survivors, she has written several novel series under her own name. In June 2020, Philip was removed from the Erin Hunter team after announcing her support for J.K Rowling's transphobic statements on Twitter.
Clarissa Hutton
Clarissa Hutton is the author of several Warriors novellas, including Thunderstar's Echo and the three stories in Path of a Warrior.
Rosie Best
Rosie Best is the author of The Exile's Journey, several books in the Bravelands series, as well as every book in the Bamboo Kingdom series.
Natalie Riess
Natalie Riess is one of the illustrators of the upcoming graphic novel adaptation of the first Warriors arc.
Sara Goetter
Sara Goetter is one of the illustrators of the upcoming graphic novel adaptation of the first Warriors arc.
Works
Warriors
Warriors: The Prophecies Begin
Into the Wild (2003) (Kate Cary)
Fire and Ice (2003) (Cary)
Forest of Secrets (2003) (Cherith Baldry)
Rising Storm (2004) (Cary)
A Dangerous Path (2004) (Baldry)
The Darkest Hour (2004) (Baldry)
Warriors: The New Prophecy
Midnight (2005) (Baldry)
Moonrise (2005) (Baldry)
Dawn (2005) (Cary)
Starlight (2006) (Baldry)
Twilight (2006) (Baldry)
Sunset (2007) (Baldry)
Warriors: Power of Three
The Sight (2007) (Cary)
Dark River (2007) (Cary)
Outcast (2008) (Baldry)
Eclipse (2008) (Cary)
Long Shadows (2008) (Baldry)
Sunrise (2009) (Baldry)
Warriors: Omen of the Stars
The Fourth Apprentice (2009) (Baldry)
Fading Echoes (2010) (Cary)
Night Whispers (2010) (Cary)
Sign of the Moon (2011) (Baldry)
The Forgotten Warrior (2011) (Baldry)
The Last Hope (2012) (Cary)
Warriors: Dawn of the Clans
The Sun Trail (2013) (Baldry)
Thunder Rising (2013) (Baldry)
The First Battle (2014) (Cary)
The Blazing Star (2014) (Baldry)
A Forest Divided (2015) (Cary)
Path of Stars (2015) (Cary)
Warriors: A Vision of Shadows
The Apprentice's Quest (2016) (Baldry)
Thunder and Shadow (2016) (Cary)
Shattered Sky (2017) (Baldry)
Darkest Night (2017) (Cary)
River of Fire (2018) (Baldry)
The Raging Storm (2018) (Cary)
Warriors: The Broken Code
Lost Stars (2019) (Baldry)
The Silent Thaw (2019) (Cary)
Veil of Shadows (2020) (Baldry)
Darkness Within (2020) (Cary)
The Place of No Stars (2021) (Baldry)
A Light in the Mist (2021) (Cary)
Warriors: A Starless Clan
River (2022) (Baldry)
Sky (2022) (Cary)
Shadow (2023) (Baldry)
Thunder (2023) (Cary)
Wind (2024) (Baldry)
Graystripe's Adventure (colored release in 2017)
The Lost Warrior (2007) (Dan Jolley)
Warrior's Refuge (2007) (Jolley)
Warrior's Return (2008) (Jolley)
The Rise of Scourge (colored release in 2024)
The Rise of Scourge (2008) (Jolley)
Tigerstar and Sasha
Into the Woods (2008) (Jolley)
Escape from the Forest (2009) (Jolley)
Return to the Clans (2009) (Jolley)
Ravenpaw's Path (colored release in 2018)
Shattered Peace (2009) (Jolley)
A Clan in Need (2010) (Jolley)
The Heart of a Warrior (2010) (Jolley)
SkyClan and the Stranger (colored release in 2019)
The Rescue (2011) (Jolley)
Beyond the Code (2011) (Jolley)
After the Flood (2012) (Jolley)
A Shadow in RiverClan
A Shadow in RiverClan (2020) (Jolley)
Winds of Change
Winds of Change (2021) (Jolley)
Exile from ShadowClan
Exile from ShadowClan (2022) (Jolley)
A Thief In ThunderClan
A Thief In ThunderClan (2023) (Jolley)
Graphic Novels
Into the Wild (2024) (Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter)
Super Editions
Firestar's Quest (2007) (Baldry)
Bluestar's Prophecy (2009) (Cary)
SkyClan's Destiny (2010) (Baldry)
Crookedstar's Promise (2011) (Cary)
Yellowfang's Secret (2012) (Baldry)
Tallstar's Revenge (2013) (Cary)
Bramblestar's Storm (2014) (Baldry)
Moth Flight's Vision (2015) (Cary)
Hawkwing's Journey (2016) (Baldry)
Tigerheart's Shadow (2017) (Cary)
Crowfeather's Trial (2018) (Baldry)
Squirrelflight's Hope (2019) (Cary)
Graystripe's Vow (2020) (Baldry)
Leopardstar's Honor (2021) (Cary)
Onestar's Confession (2022) (Baldry)
Riverstar's Home (2023) (Cary)
Ivypool's Heart (2024) (Baldry)
Field guides
Secrets of the Clans (2007) (Tui T. Sutherland)
Cats of the Clans (2008) (Victoria Holmes)
Code of the Clans (2009) (Sutherland)
Battles of the Clans (2010) (Sutherland)
Enter the Clans (2012) (Bind-up of Secrets of the Clans and Code of the Clans)
The Warriors Guide (2012) (Holmes)
Warriors: The Ultimate Guide (2013) (Holmes)
The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded (2023)
Novellas
Hollyleaf's Story (2012) (Holmes)
Mistystar's Omen (2012) (Holmes)
Cloudstar's Journey (2013) (Holmes)
The Untold Stories (2013) (Bind-up of Hollyleaf's Story, Mistystar's Omen and Cloudstar's Journey)
Tigerclaw's Fury (2014) (Holmes)
Leafpool's Wish (2014) (Holmes)
Dovewing's Silence (2014) (Holmes)
Tales from the Clans (2014) (Bind-up of Tigerclaw's Fury, Leafpool's Wish and Dovewing's Silence)
Mapleshade's Vengeance (2015) (Holmes)
Goosefeather's Curse (2015) (Holmes)
Ravenpaw's Farewell (2016) (Holmes)
Shadows of the Clans (2016) (Bind-up of Mapleshade's Vengeance, Goosefeather's Curse and Ravenpaw's Farewell)
Spottedleaf's Heart (2017) (Holmes)
Pinestar's Choice (2017) (Holmes)
Thunderstar's Echo (2017) (Clarissa Hutton)
Legends of the Clans (2017) (Bind-up of Spottedleaf's Heart, Pinestar's Choice and Thunderstar's Echo)
Redtail's Debt (2019) (Hutton)
Tawnypelt's Clan (2019) (Hutton)
Shadowstar's Life (2019) (Hutton)
Path of a Warrior (2019) (Bind-up of Redtail's Debt, Tawnypelt's Clan and Shadowstar's Life) (Hutton)
Pebbleshine's Kits (2020) (Baldry)
Tree's Roots (2020) (Hutton)
Mothwing's Secret (2020) (Hutton)
A Warrior's Spirit (2020) (Bind-up of Pebbleshine's Kits, Tree's Roots and Mothwing's Secret)
Daisy's Kin (2021) (Cherith)
Blackfoot's Reckoning (2021) (Hutton)
Spotfur's Rebellion (2021) (Hutton)
A Warrior's Choice (2021) (Bind-up of Daisy's Kin, Blackfoot's Reckoning and Spotfur's Rebellion)
Short stories
Spottedleaf's Honest Answer (2008) (Holmes)
The Clans Decide (2009) (Holmes)
After Sunset: The Right Choice? (2011) (Holmes)
The Elders' Concern (2011) (Holmes)
Plays
After Sunset: We Need to Talk (2007) (Holmes)
Beyond the Code: Brightspirit's Mercy (2009) (Baldry)
Seekers
Seekers: The Original Series
The Quest Begins (2008) (Sutherland)
Great Bear Lake (2009) (Baldry)
Smoke Mountain (2009) (Sutherland)
The Last Wilderness (2010) (Baldry)
Fire in the Sky (2010) (Sutherland)
Spirits in the Stars (2011) (Baldry)
Seekers: Return to the Wild
Island of Shadows (2012) (Baldry)
The Melting Sea (2012) (Sutherland)
River of Lost Bears (2013) (Baldry)
Forest of Wolves (2014) (Baldry)
The Burning Horizon (2015) (Baldry)
The Longest Day (2016) (Baldry)
Manga
Toklo's Story (2010)
Kallik's Adventure (2011)
Survivors
Survivors: The Original Series
The Empty City (2012) (Gillian Philip)
A Hidden Enemy (2013) (Philip)
Darkness Falls (2013) (Inbali Iserles)
The Broken Path (2014) (Philip)
The Endless Lake (2014) (Iserles)
Storm of Dogs (2015) (Iserles)
Survivors: The Gathering Darkness
A Pack Divided (2015) (Philip)
Dead of Night (2016) (Rosie Best)
Into the Shadows (2017) (Philip)
Red Moon Rising (2017) (Philip)
The Exile's Journey (2018) (Rosie Best)
The Final Battle (2019) (Philip)
Novellas
Alpha's Tale (2014) (Phillip)
Sweet's Journey (2015) (Philip)
Moon's Choice (2015) (Philip)
Tales from the Packs (2015) (Bind-up of Alpha's Tale, Sweet's Journey, and Moon's Choice)
Bravelands
Bravelands
Broken Pride (2017) (Philip)
Code of Honor (2018) (Philip)
Blood and Bone (2018) (Philip)
Shifting Shadows (2019) (Philip)
The Spirit Eaters (2020) (Philip)
Oathkeeper (2020) (Philip)
Bravelands: Curse of the Sandtongues
Shadows on the Mountain (2021) (Best)
The Venom Spreads (2022) (Best)
Blood on the Plains (2022) (Best)
Bravelands: Thunder on the Plains
The Shattered Horn (2023) (Best)
Breakers of the Code (2024) (Best)
Realm of Lost Spirits (2024) (Best)
Bamboo Kingdom
Creatures of the Flood (2021) (Best)
River of Secrets (2022) (Best)
Journey to the Dragon Mountain (2023) (Best)
The Dark Sun (2023) (Best)
The Lightning Path (2024) (Best)
Book development
In Warriors, Seekers, Bravelands, and Bamboo Kingdom a specific order is followed. First, Holmes, the editor, sends in the preliminary script and outline to whoever is writing the book. Then, the author develops Holmes' ideas into a single book which is sent back to Holmes for one last check-over and edit. After she finishes, she sends it to HarperCollins for publication. After Holmes stepped back from editing under the Erin Hunter name in 2017, a team of editors took over the writing of the preliminary scripts and the editing of drafts.
For the Survivors series, there was a different approach taken. The whole team got together and created a detailed story outline and developed the characters together. Then, the writing itself was done by a single author, who was still allowed to change something significant about the plot or characters if they felt that a certain character would not act a specific way.
Writing style
With four different authors, Holmes has said that the book "'sounds' like Erin, because she has a very distinctive voice". She compares the style of the authors to a different language where a stray line or word can stick out. Holmes says that she is in charge of editing and making sure that the book sounds correct. Erin Hunter books are all told in a third person limited narrative, though the focal point character changes from series to series, book to book, and sometimes from chapter to chapter.
References
External links
Warriors (official)
British children's writers
Warriors (novel series)
Fantasy shared pseudonyms
Pseudonymous women writers
21st-century pseudonymous writers
Collective pseudonyms