Glenna McReynolds

Glenna McReynolds was born in Idaho and raised throughout the United States. Her family moved quite often, living in the Pacific northwest, the Deep South, and numerous places in between, with her favorite region being the Rocky Mountain West. She met her husband, Stan, while a student at Colorado Mountain College, where they studied graphic arts and photography. Within a few years, both of their creative interests took a literary turn, with Glenna becoming a writer and Stan an English teacher. They have two children and still make Colorado their home. Before beginning her fantasy trilogy, Glenna wrote thirteen LOVESWEPT romance novels for Bantam Books. Her stories are noted for their adventuresome plots and daring characters, winning numerous industry awards, including the prestigious RITA award from the Romance Writers of America (AVENGING ANGEL, 1994), and Romantic Times awards for Best Loveswept (SHAMELESS, 1993), Best Series Romance Nominee (DRAGON'S EDEN, 1995), and a career achievement award for Romantic Adventure (1994). She was a finalist for a Chesterfield Writer's Film Project fellowship in 1999 and is a semifinalist in 2002. Glenna is writing RIVER OF EDEN as a script. In retrospect, Glenna views the writing of the CHALICE AND THE BLADE trilogy as an act of pure creative indulgence. Never one to outline or plot in advance, she took very few preconceived plans with her into the landscape of the novels, but rather let them unfold as they might. She has often said that if she knew what was going to happen in a book, she wouldn't bother to write it. The joy of writing is one of discovery, the delight is in the epiphany. She was able to do first-hand research for her medieval books on a trip to England and Wales and is planning a return visit and more books with a medieval setting. Her next project, though, is a return to the present with a story of high adventure and romance set in the rainforests of South America.