Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Encyclopedia
Biography
She was born in Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. She attended Berkeley schools through high school followed by three years at San Francisco State College
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
(now University).
In November 1969 she married Donald Simpson and divorced in February 1982. She has no children.
Writing for over 35 years, Yarbro has worked in a wide variety of genres, from science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
to westerns, from young adult adventure to historical horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
. She is the author of over 70 novels and numerous short stories. She is probably best known for her series of historical horror novels about the vampire Count Saint-Germain
Count Saint-Germain (vampire)
The Count Saint-Germain is a fictional character from a series of novels written by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. The character was inspired by a historical Count Saint-Germain, a mysterious figure in 18th century France.- History :...
. She also has published numerous volumes in a popular series of channeled wisdom
Wisdom
Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions so that universal principles, reason and...
from the entity Michael in the Messages from Michael series.
Yarbro's contribution to the horror genre has been recognised in a variety of ways: she was named a Grand Master at the World Horror Convention in 2003, and in 2005 the International Horror Guild named her a "Living Legend". She has also received the Knightly Order of the Brasov Citadel from the Transylvanian Society of Dracula. In 2009 the Horror Writers' Association presented Yarbro with the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, two of her novels, The Palace (1979) and Ariosto (1980) were nominated for the World Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award for Best Novel
This World Fantasy Award is given to the fantasy novel or novels voted best by a panel of judges, and presented each year at the World Fantasy Convention.-1975:...
, neither winning.
On average, Yarbro writes three to four books a year, and one or two short stories and/or essays. She writes six hours per day, six days per week except when traveling. Five days a week she spends three to four hours doing research.
Aside from writing, she has worked as a cartographer, has read tarot cards and palms, and has composed music, all of which she continues to do. Over the years she has studied seven different instruments, voice, and musical theory: composition, voice, and piano have continued to be active interests for her. The newsletter, Yclept Yarbro, about her and her writings has been published since 1995 by Lindig Hall Harris.
Pseudonyms:
- Quinn FawcettQuinn FawcettQuinn Fawcett is the penname of a pair of authors, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Bill Fawcett, who also write separately. Among their collaborations are a series of mysteries featuring Victoire Vernet, fictional wife of one of Napoleon's generals, a series featuring Sherlock Holmes's brother Mycroft,...
with her writing projects with Bill Fawcett - Trystam Kith [2-volume Trouble in the Forest series featuring vicious vampires]
- Terry Nelson Bonner [vol. 5 in The Making of Australia series]
- T. C. F. Hopkins [non-fiction history]
- Vanessa Pryor [romance; 1 title "Taste of Wine"]
The Michael teachings
Messages from Michael is the first in a series of four books that chronicles a three-decade-long "conversation" between a group of friends surrounding Sarah Chambers (d. 1998) and a channelled, spiritual teaching entity that has come to be known as Michael. As of November 2007 this conversation continues, as the Michael group continues to conduct closed sessions in the San Francisco Bay Area. A core concept of the teachings is: "all choices made are equally valid."Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's book presented a heavily fictionalized version of Sarah Chambers' group, identifying her under the pseudonym of Jessica Lansing. Ms. Yarbro owns the copyright to the group's work and published three more books on the subject, containing edited channeling transcripts as well as additional background material.
The Michael books
- Messages from Michael on the nature of the evolution of the human soul (1979), ISBN 0-872235-26-2
- Messages from Michael; 25th Anniversary Edition (2005) ISBN 978-0974290744
- More Messages from Michael (March 1986), ISBN 0-425-08662-3
- Michael's People (July 1988), ISBN 0-425-10932-1
- Michael for the Millennium (1995), ISBN 0-425-15074-7
The Saint-Germain Cycle
- Hôtel Transylvania (1978) is coincident with the historical Count Saint-Germain, set in the France of Louis XVLouis XV of FranceLouis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
, and involves his interaction with a cult of Satan-worshippersTheistic SatanismTheistic Satanism, sometimes referred to as Traditional Satanism, Spiritual Satanism or Devil Worship, is a form of Satanism with the primary belief that Satan is an actual deity or force to revere or worship. Other characteristics of Theistic Satanism may include a belief in magic, which is...
who threaten various men and women of his acquaintance. His principal romantic interest is a young lady, Madeline de Montalia, whom he changes at the end of the novel and who is a frequent companion in books with later settings. - The Palace (1978) is set in FlorenceFlorenceFlorence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
in the time of Lorenzo de Medici and Botticelli, who appear as characters. - Blood Games (1980) is set in Nero's Rome. His romantic interest in Olivia Clemens, a battered wife whom he changes and who survives (and is featured in her own series of novels) until a fire in the 16th century.
- Path of the Eclipse (1981) involves St. Germain's escape from Genghis KhanGenghis KhanGenghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
through TibetTibetTibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
and IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. - Tempting Fate (1982) is set in Europe after World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and chronicles the rise of the NaziNazismNazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
party in Germany. - The Saint-Germain Chronicles (a short story collection) (1983) In five stories set in the 19th and 20th century, St. Germain explores various parts of his life. The final story, "Cabin 33", is the latest story in the canon, set at a dude ranchDude ranchThe guest ranch, also known as a dude ranch, is a type of ranch oriented towards visitors or tourism. It is considered a form of agritourism.-History:...
in the American WestWestern United States.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
owned by St. Germain and Roger, and concludes with St. Germain and de Montalia deciding to see if they can break with vampire tradition and live together as husband and wife. - Out of the House of Life (1990) principally concerns the adventures of de Montalia on an 1810 archaeologicalArchaeologyArchaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
expedition to Egypt, punctuated with long letters from St. Germain which contain information she uses to find artifacts left behind from his "life" there. However, St. Germain only appears as a character directly for a short period at the end of the novel. - Darker Jewels (1993) is set in the Russia of Ivan the Terrible.
- Better In The Dark (1993) is set in Germany in the 10th century.
- Mansions of Darkness (1996) features St. Germain in Spanish America in the 17th century.
- Writ in Blood (1997) features St. Germain as a secret agent of Russian TsarTsarTsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Nicholas II, attempting to patch the ties of blood between the European royal familiesRoyal familyA royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
and prevent the outbreak of World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. - Blood Roses (1998) is set at various locations in France during the PlagueBlack DeathThe Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
years. - Communion Blood (1999) is set in Rome in the late 17th century.
- Come Twilight (2000) is set in Moorish Spain.
- A Feast in Exile (2001) is set in India at the time of Tamurlane's invasion.
- Night Blooming (2002) is set in the Frankish kingdom of CharlemagneCharlemagneCharlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
. - Midnight Harvest (2003) features St. Germain's visit to the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
following the events of Tempting Fate. - Dark of the Sun (2004) is set in China in the 6th century.
- States of Grace (2005) is set in Western Europe in the 1530s.
- Roman Dusk (2006) is set during the reign of the emperor HeliogabalusElagabalusElagabalus , also known as Heliogabalus, was Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the Severan Dynasty, he was Syrian on his mother's side, the son of Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus. Early in his youth he served as a priest of the god El-Gabal at his hometown, Emesa...
in 3rd century Rome. - Borne in Blood (2007) is set in Switzerland in the 1810s
- Saint-Germain: Memoirs (2007, short story collection) features St. Germain in various time periods
- A Dangerous Climate (2008) is set in 18th century St Petersburg, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- Burning Shadows (2009) is set in 5th century Hungary and Romania
- An Embarrassment of Riches (2011) is set in 13th century Bohemia
- Commedia della Morte (March 2012) is set in France and Italy, 1792-94
The Atta Olivia Clemens novels
- A Flame in Byzantium (1987) is set in 6th century Constantinople during the reign of Justinian IJustinian IJustinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
- Crusader's Torch (1988) is set in 1189 AD during the Christian CrusadesCrusadesThe Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
in the Middle East - A Candle for D'Artagnan (1989) is set in France during the 17th century reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV
The Madelaine de Montalia novels
- Out of the House of Life (1990) is set in an archeological expedition to Egypt during the 1820s.
- In the Face of Death (2004) is set in the United States just before and during the Civil War.
Sisters of the Night
- Kelene : The Angry Angel (1998)
- Fenice: The Soul of an Angel (1999)
- Zhameni: The Angel of Death (unpublished)
External links
- Saint-Germain—Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's official site