My Thoroughly Unauthorised

Shrine to

R. A. MacAvoy (1949- )

R. A. MacAvoy writes wonderful science fiction and fantasy novels. Her stories are full of interesting and original twists and turns (for example, you can't be certain that the main character will not die - several times, in one case...), and she treats her characters with respect. She has written in quite a few different styles, which vary between each series of novels that she's done, but her style is always neat, realistically characterised, and completely enthralling.

"I like to write. Language and character interest me. Plot does not, but I understand I'd better have one if anyone's to read my book." From Contemporary Authors, vol 113

Some of R. A. MacAvoy's wonderful books are now back in print with the publisher "E-Rights/E-Reads Ltd" in print and e-format - available through Amazon.com. I have set up "Amazon Associate" links to Tea, Twisting the Rope, and The Grey Horse from the Bibliography page - if we're really lucky there might be others republished.

Jump to: Biography ; Bibliography

Biography:

Roberta Ann MacAvoy lives in Scotts Valley, Northern California. Her surname is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable: MACavoy. I assume that she calls herself Bertie MacAvoy in real life, as that is the appellation I've seen name-dropped around the Internet.

She was born on 13th December 1949 in Cleveland, daughter of Francis and Helen MacAvoy.
In 1971 she graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a B.A., and worked as an assistant to the financial aid officer of Columbia College, Columbia University (New York) from 1975 to 1978. She married Ronald Allen Cain on 10th June 1978 (a computer programmer and analyst), and worked as a computer programmer herself from 1979 to 1982. Her employment is listed as writer from 1982.

Member of: American Connemara Pony Society, American Donkey and Mule Society, Folk Harpers Guild.
Interests: Playing music, keeping horses.

Awards: Locus 1984, John W. Compbell Award for best new writer 1984,
Phillip K Dick Memorial award 1984.
Nominated for World Fantasy Award 1984.
Nominated for The Australian Science Fiction Awards (Ditmars) for Best International Fiction 1985.

Bibliography:

This is a summary of R. A. MacAvoy's novels - pop over to the Bibliography page for a little more detail and the publisher's blurbs.

Tea with the black dragon(1983)(2000)
Twisting the rope : Casadh an T'Sugain (1986)(2000)(sequel to Tea with the Black Dragon)

Damiano series (also published as "Trio for Lute" in 1985):
Damiano (1983)
Damiano's Lute (1984)
Raphael (1984)

The Book of Kells (1985)

The Grey Horse (1987)(2000)

The Third Eagle : lessons along a minor string (1989)