Winterlands (Dragonsbane)

Barbara Hambly (born October 28, 1951) is an American fantasy and science fiction novelist. She is best known for her historical fantasy novels, particularly her Darwath trilogy and her Windrose Chronicles. Hambly was born in Pasadena, California, and grew up in La Cañada Flintridge. She graduated from Scripps College in 1973 with a degree in English literature. After working as a technical writer, she began writing fiction in the late 1970s. Hambly's first novel, The Time of the Dark, was published in 1982. It was followed by a number of successful fantasy novels, including The Darwath Trilogy (1983-1985), The Windrose Chronicles (1986-1990), and The Sun Wolf and Starhawk series (1995-2003). Hambly has also written science fiction novels, including the Star Wars novel Children of the Jedi (1995) and the cyberpunk novel Kyle's Gambit (1984). She has won numerous awards for her work, including the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1984 for The Darwath Trilogy. Hambly's novels are praised for their strong characters, well-developed worlds, and exciting plots. She is considered one of the most popular and successful fantasy authors of her generation.