Alma Alexander
Encyclopedia
Alma Alexander is the pen name of Alma A. Hromic (born July 5, 1963), a fantasy writer whose novels include the "Worldweavers" young adult series, The Secrets of Jin-Shei
and its sequel The Embers of Heaven, The Hidden Queen, and Changer of Days. She is a native of Yugoslavia
and grew up in various African countries, including Zambia
, Swaziland
, and South Africa
, also spending time in England
and New Zealand
before moving to the United States
. She currently lives in Bellingham, Washington
with her husband, R. A. Deckert.
In addition to her fantasy novels, Alexander has published a memoir about growing up in Africa
and an epistolary novel (written with her husband, then an acquaintance from a Usenet
newsgroup) about the NATO war in Yugoslavia. She has also published numerous book reviews, travelogues, essays, poetry, and other articles in various magazines (e.g., Swans
) around the world. Her story "The Painting" won the 2000 BBC
Short Story Contest.
In 2009, she donated her archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University
.
The Secrets of Jin-Shei
The Secrets of Jin-Shei is a novel written by Alma A. Hromic , published by HarperCollins in May 2004 in the U.S., and also published in several other countries in a total of eleven languages.- Plot summary :...
and its sequel The Embers of Heaven, The Hidden Queen, and Changer of Days. She is a native of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and grew up in various African countries, including Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, also spending time in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
before moving to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She currently lives in Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
with her husband, R. A. Deckert.
In addition to her fantasy novels, Alexander has published a memoir about growing up in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and an epistolary novel (written with her husband, then an acquaintance from a Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
newsgroup) about the NATO war in Yugoslavia. She has also published numerous book reviews, travelogues, essays, poetry, and other articles in various magazines (e.g., Swans
Swans (magazine)
Swans Commentary is an American online political and literary magazine, created in 1996; co-editors are Jan Baughman and the French essayist and political commentator Gilles d’Aymery, who is the magazine's publisher.-Collaborators and contributors:...
) around the world. Her story "The Painting" won the 2000 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Short Story Contest.
In 2009, she donated her archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
.