Nancy McKenzie
Encyclopedia
Nancy Affleck McKenzie (February 19, 1948) is an American historical fiction
writer. Her primary focus is Arthurian legend.
in 1993, and the Washington Irving Medal from Westchester Library Association, NY the following year. The two novels were combined into Queen of Camelot
in 2002. McKenzie wanted to rediscover Guinevere in her true fifth century environment. "I decided to write about Guinevere because I never understood her. I wanted to make her into someone a 20th-century person could understand," McKenzie said in an interview.
Two sequels followed, Grail Prince
and Prince of Dreams, following by two Young-Adult novels, Guinevere's Gift and Guinevere's Gamble. Prince of Dreams tells the story of Tristan and Iseult
, and takes place after King Arthur's death. One reviewer wrote of the novel, McKenzie "explores the vulnerability of women in a violent and patriarchal society".
McKenzie recently stated "Thus far, my published books are all Arthurian adventures/ romances, but I am deeply interested in ancient Egyptian culture and hope to write an archaeologically up-to-date life of Akhenaten
in the near future".
, New Jersey
to James G. and Callie K Affleck. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College
in 1970, and achieved her Master's degree
from Tufts University
in 1973. She married Bruce Gordon McKenzie in 1972, and they have three daughters. McKenzie resides in Danbury
, Connecticut
. In between her novels, McKenzie ran a freelance desktop publishing business from 1989 to 2000.
She has listed Mary Stewart
as one of her favorite authors, along with George Eliot
and .
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
writer. Her primary focus is Arthurian legend.
Publishing career
McKenzie published The Child Queen in 1994, and its sequel, The High Queen, a year later. The Child Queen won "Discovery of the Year" from Del Rey BooksDel Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn since 1998, by Bertelsmann AG. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It specializes in science fiction and fantasy...
in 1993, and the Washington Irving Medal from Westchester Library Association, NY the following year. The two novels were combined into Queen of Camelot
Queen of Camelot
Queen of Camelot is an Arthurian-legend based novel shown through the viewpoint of Queen Guinevere. It is a combination of two of McKenzie's previous books The Child Queen and The High Queen...
in 2002. McKenzie wanted to rediscover Guinevere in her true fifth century environment. "I decided to write about Guinevere because I never understood her. I wanted to make her into someone a 20th-century person could understand," McKenzie said in an interview.
Two sequels followed, Grail Prince
Grail Prince
Grail Prince, a 2003 novel by Nancy McKenzie written in the tradition of Arthurian legends, recounts a version of Galahad's quest for the Holy Grail...
and Prince of Dreams, following by two Young-Adult novels, Guinevere's Gift and Guinevere's Gamble. Prince of Dreams tells the story of Tristan and Iseult
Tristan and Iseult
The legend of Tristan and Iseult is an influential romance and tragedy, retold in numerous sources with as many variations. The tragic story is of the adulterous love between the Cornish knight Tristan and the Irish princess Iseult...
, and takes place after King Arthur's death. One reviewer wrote of the novel, McKenzie "explores the vulnerability of women in a violent and patriarchal society".
McKenzie recently stated "Thus far, my published books are all Arthurian adventures/ romances, but I am deeply interested in ancient Egyptian culture and hope to write an archaeologically up-to-date life of Akhenaten
Akhenaten
Akhenaten also spelled Echnaton,Ikhnaton,and Khuenaten;meaning "living spirit of Aten") known before the fifth year of his reign as Amenhotep IV , was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled for 17 years and died perhaps in 1336 BC or 1334 BC...
in the near future".
List of works
- The Child Queen (1994)
- The High Queen (1995), combined with The Child Queen and republished as Queen of CamelotQueen of CamelotQueen of Camelot is an Arthurian-legend based novel shown through the viewpoint of Queen Guinevere. It is a combination of two of McKenzie's previous books The Child Queen and The High Queen...
in 2002. - Grail PrinceGrail PrinceGrail Prince, a 2003 novel by Nancy McKenzie written in the tradition of Arthurian legends, recounts a version of Galahad's quest for the Holy Grail...
(2003) - Prince of Dreams (2004)
- The Chrysalis Queen Quartet series:
- Guinevere's Gift (2008)
- Guinevere's Gamble (2009)
Personal life
McKenzie was born in PrincetonPrinceton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
to James G. and Callie K Affleck. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
in 1970, and achieved her Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
in 1973. She married Bruce Gordon McKenzie in 1972, and they have three daughters. McKenzie resides in Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. In between her novels, McKenzie ran a freelance desktop publishing business from 1989 to 2000.
She has listed Mary Stewart
Mary Stewart
Mary Florence Elinor Stewart is a popular English novelist, best known for her Merlin series, which straddles the boundary between the historical novel and the fantasy genre.-Career:...
as one of her favorite authors, along with George Eliot
George Eliot
Mary Anne Evans , better known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, journalist and translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era...
and .