Linnea Sinclair
Encyclopedia
Linnea Sinclair is an award winning writer
of Science Fiction Romance, Fantasy Romance and Paranormal Romance
. Sinclair's Gabriel's Ghost was the winner of the 2006 RITA Award
in the Best Paranormal Romance category. She has used the pseudonym Megan Sybil Baker. A former news reporter and retired private detective, she resides in Naples, Florida (winters) and Columbus, Ohio (summers) with her husband Robert Bernadino and their two cats.
and criminology
at Indiana University Bloomington
(1972–1975) and Florida State University
.
Sinclair is a former investigative news reporter and private investigator in the Central Florida area who has written for many private investigative journals.She owned Island Investigations.
She has stated to have been writing ever since she could wrap her fingers around a Crayon. Her first professional sale was the Fantasy
romance Wintertide in 1999 to LTDBooks. Since 2004 she has been published by Bantam Books. Her agent is Kristin Nelson from Nelson Literary Agency. She is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and workshops for writers.
as well. She has stated to like the term "Space Opera
", and her books Finders Keepers and Destiny's Game have indeed been called so. She sometimes writes with a good sense of humor, and her books Finders Keepers and An Accidental Goddess have been called "funny". In a review of Gabriel's Ghost, Vicky Burkholder has wrote that 'Linnea blends science fiction, romance, world building and the paranormal'.
, and to 'wrap the world, the setting' around that story. She has also said that her books unfold in her head much like a movie, in that she starts writing at page one and just keeps going.
into her work. The male protagonist in her novel The Down Home Zombie Blues is a homicide detective in a Florida city. Various of her short stories are based on a psychic investigator (also abbreviated as PI).
While she was still a practicing PI and publishing with LTDBooks, she used the pen name Megan Sybil Baker. According to her website she didn't think her clients would approve the person who was keeping their secrets as a private investigator was also publishing fiction. The pseudonym Baker she created for herself when she was about ten years old.
Edited together with J.C. Wilder:
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of Science Fiction Romance, Fantasy Romance and Paranormal Romance
Paranormal romance
Paranormal romance is a sub-genre of the romance novel. A type of speculative fiction, paranormal romance focuses on romance and includes elements beyond the range of scientific explanation, blending together themes from the genres of traditional fantasy, science fiction, or horror...
. Sinclair's Gabriel's Ghost was the winner of the 2006 RITA Award
RITA Award
The RITA Award is the most prominent award given throughout the genre of romance novel and some other romantic fiction. It is presented by Romance Writers of America . It is named for the RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada. It signifies excellence in one of 13 categories of romantic fiction.-...
in the Best Paranormal Romance category. She has used the pseudonym Megan Sybil Baker. A former news reporter and retired private detective, she resides in Naples, Florida (winters) and Columbus, Ohio (summers) with her husband Robert Bernadino and their two cats.
Biography
Linnea Sinclair was born in New Jersey, USA. She studied journalismJournalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
at Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
(1972–1975) and Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
Sinclair is a former investigative news reporter and private investigator in the Central Florida area who has written for many private investigative journals.She owned Island Investigations.
She has stated to have been writing ever since she could wrap her fingers around a Crayon. Her first professional sale was the 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...
romance Wintertide in 1999 to LTDBooks. Since 2004 she has been published by Bantam Books. Her agent is Kristin Nelson from Nelson Literary Agency. She is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and workshops for writers.
Genre
Sinclair's website proclaims her as a 'Science Fiction Romance author'. Nevertheless, she has written Fantasy Romance and Paranormal RomanceParanormal romance
Paranormal romance is a sub-genre of the romance novel. A type of speculative fiction, paranormal romance focuses on romance and includes elements beyond the range of scientific explanation, blending together themes from the genres of traditional fantasy, science fiction, or horror...
as well. She has stated to like the term "Space Opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
", and her books Finders Keepers and Destiny's Game have indeed been called so. She sometimes writes with a good sense of humor, and her books Finders Keepers and An Accidental Goddess have been called "funny". In a review of Gabriel's Ghost, Vicky Burkholder has wrote that 'Linnea blends science fiction, romance, world building and the paranormal'.
Creative process
Sinclair has said to always start with a "what if" involving a male and female protagonistProtagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
, and to 'wrap the world, the setting' around that story. She has also said that her books unfold in her head much like a movie, in that she starts writing at page one and just keeps going.
Writer and PI
Sinclair blends her experience as a private investigatorPrivate investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
into her work. The male protagonist in her novel The Down Home Zombie Blues is a homicide detective in a Florida city. Various of her short stories are based on a psychic investigator (also abbreviated as PI).
While she was still a practicing PI and publishing with LTDBooks, she used the pen name Megan Sybil Baker. According to her website she didn't think her clients would approve the person who was keeping their secrets as a private investigator was also publishing fiction. The pseudonym Baker she created for herself when she was about ten years old.
Furzels and cats
Sinclair's novel Games of Command and the short story Of Cats, Uh, Furzels and Kings feature telepathic feline creatures called 'Furzel's. Sinclair has stated that these are inspired by her two cats Daiquiri (aka Daq) and Miss Doozy.Wintertide series
- Wintertide (1999, LTDBooks, as Megan Sybil Baker; June 2004, Medallion Press)
- An Accidental Goddess (October 2002, LTDBooks, as Megan Sybil Baker; January 2006, Bantam Books)
- the far future sequel to Wintertide
Dock Five series
These are written in chronological order, but not with the same protagonists.- Gabriel's Ghost (April 2002, LTDBooks, as Megan Sybil Baker; October 2005, Bantam Books.) Protagonists: Chasidah Bergen and Gabriel Sullivan
- 2006 RITA AwardRITA AwardThe RITA Award is the most prominent award given throughout the genre of romance novel and some other romantic fiction. It is presented by Romance Writers of America . It is named for the RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada. It signifies excellence in one of 13 categories of romantic fiction.-...
winner, for Best Paranormal Romance- Shades of Dark previously called Chasidah's Choice (July 2008, Bantam Books.) Protagonists: Chasidah Bergen and Gabriel Sullivan
- 2008 P.E.A.R.L. Award, for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance.
- Hope's Folly (24 February 2009, Bantam Books.) Protagonists: Philip Guthrie (Chasidah's ex-husband) and Rya Bennton
- 2009 P.E.A.R.L. Award, for Best Science Fiction & Futuristic Fantasy Romance
- Rebels and Lovers (March 2010, Bantam Books.) Protagonists: Makaiden Malloy and Devin Guthrie (Philip's brother)
Standalone novels
- Finders Keepers (October 2001, Novel Books Inc.; May 2005, Bantam Books)
- 2001 Sapphire Award; 2003 EPPIE Award, for Fantasy/Science Fiction/Paranormal Romance
- Command Performance (April 2002, Novel Books Inc.)
- Destiny's Game (November 2002, Novel Books Inc.)
- Games of Command (February 2007, Bantam Books)
- 2007 P.E.A.R.L. Award, for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance
- The Down Home Zombie Blues (November 2007, Bantam Books)
- 2007 P.E.A.R.L. Honorable Mention, for Best Futuristic Romance
- 2008 winner of Romantic Times 2008 Reviewers' Choice Award Winners for Futuristic/Fantasy Romance
Edited together with J.C. Wilder:
- Dream Quest, Nine Spellbinding Paranormal Romances (January 2003, LTDBooks), including the short story "To Call the Moons" by Sinclair (as Megan Sybil Baker).
Short stories
Most of these stories the author has put up on her Yahoo Group, not for distribution.- "To Dance With Death" (1988, unpublished)
- "Gambit" (2000)
- Silent Run (2001), set in the same universe as Finders Keepers
- "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"
- First place in Futures Magazine Short story contest
- "Macawley's List" (2000)
- "Of Cats, Uh, Furzels and Kings" (2004)
- "Rhapsody In The Key of Death" (2005)