Amanda Downum  Amanda Downum is an American fantasy author currently living in Austin, Texas. She was born on July 15, 1979, in Virginia. She is most known for her necromancer chronicles: The Drowning City, The Bone Palace, and Kingdoms of Dust. Downum’s books consist of themes relating to identity, gender roles and sexuality, death, secrets and social stratification. She was nominated for the James Tiptree, Jr. Award in 2010. Amanda Downum was born on 15 July 1979 into a middle-class family in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the United States of America. Downum's parents would read Downum fantasy/science fiction authors such as: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Ursula K. Le Guin and, Madeleine L'Engle. As Downum grew older, she formed a Goth persona from reading novels such as The Hobbit and Prince Caspian and reading H.P. Lovecraft’s horror novels. These authors/books have influenced Downum’s genre, fantasy fiction, since her early childhood. Downum wanted to be a writer at the age of six and her first attempt at writing a novel was in high school. Many of her present characters and events were created/drawn from her early unpublished writings and/or childhood memories. Amanda Downum graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in English Literature and a minor in German. During her time at college, Downum considered being a writer again when she found an Online Writing Workshop and realized that she could drastically improve her writing. Amanda Downum is married to Joshua Hackett and they both reside in a home near Austin, Texas. She has traveled to Indonesia, and Micronesia and has spent time in Missouri, Arizona, California, and Colorado. Although Downum does not speak often on politics or religion in any of her blogs or interviews, some of the organizations and associations that are supported by her include The National Association to Protect Children, RAINN, Lambda, and Amnesty International. Among other things, Downum creates jewelry for her brand Still So Strange Studios; her interests also include rock climbing and cooking. Here's a list of Amanda Downum's short stories:  Amanda Downum first received recognition for her novel, The Drowning City, when it was shortlisted for the 2009 David Gemmell Morning Star award. Downum’s The Drowning City also received a nomination the following year, in 2010, for the David Gemmell Legend Award.