Jo Clayton
Encyclopedia
Jo Clayton
was an American
fantasy
and science fiction
author. She wrote 35 novels and many short stories. Her works sold over a million copies.
She was born in Modesto, California
, and she was raised in the area along with two sisters by her farmsteading parents. Their parents arranged for all three children to attend college, and Jo graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California
in 1963. She worked as a teacher for thirteen years, beginning in Bell, California
.
In 1969 she had a religious conversion and moved to New Orleans to join the Sisters of Mount Carmel
, a Roman Catholic order of instructors. She left the order after three years, just before she would have taken her vows to become a nun
. While in New Orleans she wrote heavily and also worked as an artist, painting people's pets. By 1983 she decided to move to Portland, Oregon
.
At age 57 she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma
, a cancer
of the bone marrow
, and died from her condition a year and a half later. During her stay in the hospital she continued writing, completing a full novel and half of the last book in a trilogy.
She was survived by her mother Bessie Clayton, and her sisters Penn Brumm and Pamela Larsen.
was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and 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...
author. She wrote 35 novels and many short stories. Her works sold over a million copies.
She was born in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, and she was raised in the area along with two sisters by her farmsteading parents. Their parents arranged for all three children to attend college, and Jo graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1963. She worked as a teacher for thirteen years, beginning in Bell, California
Bell, California
Bell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Its population was 35,477 at the 2010 census, down from 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles...
.
In 1969 she had a religious conversion and moved to New Orleans to join the Sisters of Mount Carmel
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
, a Roman Catholic order of instructors. She left the order after three years, just before she would have taken her vows to become a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
. While in New Orleans she wrote heavily and also worked as an artist, painting people's pets. By 1983 she decided to move to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
At age 57 she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
, a cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
of the bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
, and died from her condition a year and a half later. During her stay in the hospital she continued writing, completing a full novel and half of the last book in a trilogy.
She was survived by her mother Bessie Clayton, and her sisters Penn Brumm and Pamela Larsen.
Series by "World"
The Diadem Saga
Shadith's Quest
The Shadowsong Trilogy
Standalone
Standalone
The Skeen Trilogy
| The Duel of Sorcery Series
The Dancers Trilogy
The Soul Drinker Trilogy
The Wild Magic Series
The Drums of Chaos
|