Paranormal Romance Authoress: Sherrilyn Kenyon

"Vengence. Some say its a poison that infiltrates the soul and strips it bare. That its path only destroys the one who treads it. But to others, it's mother's milk. It nourishes and thrives -- gives them a reason to survive when they have nothing more to hold them to this world." That is part of the prologue to Sherrilyn Kenyon's Devil May Cry; that is what made me want to read the novel, as did the cover. Sherrilyn Kenyon is one of paranormal romance's best selling authors. She has been said to "deliver the goods readers have come to expect" (booklist). Sherrilyn gives the readers something many authors cannot even attempt to offer. She puts a new twist on ancient mythological stories and tells them in a new passionate way.

Sherrilyn has been writing all her life. She wrote her first novel when she was only 7 years old and then published it herself. Like many writers, Kenyon wrote throughout high school and published in local papers and even went to write throughout college. She was accepted to Savannah College of Art and Design, but attended college instead because of the cost of tuition. She majored in art, but then switched over to history again because of the cost of supplies. She tested the waters in twelve different majors, and ended up graduating with a major that combined medieval history and language with Classical Studies. She also had the credits to be able to earn minors in the fields of philosophy, psychology, and French, and to earn a certificate of Medieval Studies. This is one intelligent woman, who knows what she talks about in her writing. She is able to create an entire world in her head and make her readers want to be a part of it.

After a traumatizing lose, Sherrilyn stopped writing for several years. She picked up her "pen" so to speak again as a way to earn some money for her family: she wrote articles for a magazine and the drive and passon for writing flowed through her once more and she wrote 8 novels, which was the beginning of the Dark Hunter novels. In 1997 she wrote Fantasy Lover and Pirate of Her Own. She sent Pirate of Her Own to a friend and her agent both of whom told her wouldn't be published.She took a chance and wrote one query letter which pitched both ideas: Fantasy Lover and Pirate of Her Own and sent it out. The response she got was an interest in Pirate of Her Own, and earned a 3 book contract with Harper and the beloved Kinley MacGregor was born. A note to hopeful authors, never give up the dream or ideas, even if someone tells you it would never sell. Writing under Kinley MacGregor, she writes historical romance novels with hints of the paranormal elements. Two years later St. Martin bought Fantasy Lover and the Dark Hunters. Boy are her fans glad she started writing again. Since then she has been on the best seller list many times and she is gaining new fans every day.

She has been writing as both Sherrilyn Kenyon and Kinley MacGregor for years and has become an international phenomenon. Kenyon is credited with being one of the founding authors of the paranormal craze. She has written many series including the Dark Hunters, Dream Hunters, The League, Brotherhood of the Sword, Lords of Avalon, and she still has more in the making. Lords of Avalon have been picked up by Marvel as a form of comics to bring in the comic book crowd and for you manga lovers the Dark Hunters have been made into a manga as well. Kenyon's work is reaching the bounds to gather new readers, new fans, and getting more and more people interested in the paranormal genre of writing and better yet...getting more people interested in reading. Sherrilyn doesn't only write fiction, but she has also written some non-fiction pieces as well. She has written for Writer's Digest as well as several non-fiction books such as Everyday Life in the Middle Ages, The Character Naming Source Book and Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference.

Sherrilyn Kenyon is paranormal romance's best selling author. Her imagination runs wild and draws readers into her world and keeps them there. She has seen hardship and sturggled to get to where she is today. She is a source of inspiration for authors like myself who are trying to get published, even if it is in a magazine. Kenyon was persistant in her writing even after a friend and agent told her, a story wouldn't be popular. She is strong and imaginative with her descriptions. Just reading her novels inspires writers, readers, and lovers of reading from all ages. I think Sherrilyn Kenyon is an author everyone should read at least once, you will be left wanting more. She inspires me to keep writing and never give up my dreams. Hope she does inspire you too.