Editing Sarah Zettel

{{Short description|American writer}}
{{redirect-distinguish|C. L. Anderson|Chapman L. Anderson}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
| name             = Sarah Zettel
| image            = 
| image_size       = 
| alt              = 
| caption          =
| birth_name       = Sarah Anne Zettel
| birth_date       = {{birth-date and age|December 14, 1966}}
| birth_place      = [[Sacramento, California]], U.S.
| occupation       = Author
| language         = 
| education        = [[University of Michigan]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| period           = 1988–present
| genre            = [[Matter of Britain|Arthurian literature]]<br />Science fiction<br />Fantasy
| subject          = 
| notableworks     = ''Reclamation''<br />''Bitter Angels''
| influences       = 
| influenced       = 
| awards           = [[Locus Award for Best First Novel]]<br />[[Philip K. Dick Award]]
| signature        = 
| signature_alt    = 
| website          = {{URL|sarahzettel.com}}
| portaldisp       = 
}}

'''Sarah Zettel''' (born December 14, 1966) is an American author, primarily of science fiction. Her first short story was published in ''[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact]]'' in 1991. Zettel's novels have won multiple awards, including the [[Philip K. Dick Award]] and the [[Locus Award for Best First Novel]], and positive reviews from critics. Her first novel ''Reclamation'' was published in 1996 and her second novel ''Fool's War'' in 1997. She has written romance novels and mysteries under the pseudonym '''Darcie Wilde''', and the novel ''Bitter Angels'' as '''C. L. Anderson'''.

==Career==
Zettel's first short story ''Driven by Moonlight'' was written in 1986, and was published in ''[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact]]'' in 1991.<ref name="Locus">{{cite web |url=https://www.locusmag.com/1998/Issues/01/Zettel.html |title= Sarah Zettel: Matters of Faith |date=January 1998 |website=Locus Magazine |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lib.msu.edu/branches/vvl/writers/spring01/021601.jsp |title=Science Fiction Writer Sarah Zettel |date=February 16, 2001 |website=Michigan State University |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> Her first novel ''Reclamation'' was published in 1996; this was followed by ''Fool's War'' in 1997. Zettel wrote many science-fiction short stories for ''Analog'' and other publications.  [[Stanley Schmidt]], the editor of ''Analog'', sent her work back multiple times to fix problems; in 1998, Zettel said she regarded Schmidt "as a really great teacher, and I think that experience is what led me directly to be able to write ''Reclamation''".<ref name="Locus"/>

{{As of|2021}}, Zettel has written 35 novels in genres that include horror, fantasy, romance, thriller/suspense, and young adult. She said "every genre gives you a different view into the art of storytelling".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2020/04/28/sarah-zettel-creates-strong-female-protagonist-a-mothers-lie/3035819001/ |title=Sarah Zettel creates strong female protagonist for 'A Mother's Lie' |last=Krug |first=Kurt Anthony |date=April 28, 2020 |website=The Detroit News |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> Of all of her novels, ''A Mother's Lie'' "holds a special place in her heart" because "I wanted a chance to write a suspense book in which the mother gets to be the hero, and the strength of the relationship between mother and daughter gets to be at the center of the story in a positive way".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thebigthrill.org/2020/03/up-close-sarah-zettel/ |title=Up Close: Sarah Zettel |last=Hast |first=Millie Naylor |date=March 31, 2020 |website=The Big Thrill |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> Zettel writes regency mysteries and romances under the pseudonym Darcie Wilde.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darciewilderomance.com/ |title=About Darcie Wilde |website=Darcia Wilde |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> Among Zettel's favorite science-fiction authors are [[Ursula Le Guin]]&nbsp;– who inspired her to become an author&nbsp;– and [[Octavia Butler]], [[Mary Doria Russell]], and [[Terry Prachett]]. Zettel said her ideas come from current events, her earlier reading material, and memoirs based around science.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sffworld.com/2000/01/interview-with-sarah-zettel/? |title=Interview with Sarah Zettel |last=Rambraut |first=Dag |date=January 1, 2000 |website=SFFWorld. |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref>

==Reception==
Sarah Zettel's first novel ''Reclamation'' was nominated for the [[Philip K. Dick Award]] in 1997 and won the [[Locus Award for Best First Novel]] the same year.<ref name="Awards">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfadb.com/Sarah_Zettel |title=Sarah Zettel |website=Science Fiction Awards Database |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Open">{{cite web |url=https://openroadmedia.com/contributor/sarah-zettel |title=Sarah Zettel |website=Open Road Media |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> Writing as C. L. Anderson, her novel ''Bitter Angels'' won the 2010 Philip K. Dick award for best science-fiction paperback.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarahzettel.com/about-me/about-cl-anderson/ |title=About CL Anderson |website=Official website |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Open"/> Her novel ''Fool's War'' became a ''New York Times'' Notable Book in 1997. The [[American Library Association]] said ''Playing God'' is "one of the Best Books for Young Adults of 1999". ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' and the American Library Association said her novel ''Dust Girl'' is one of that year's "best young adult books".<ref name="Open"/>

Professor and media scholar [[Henry Jenkins]] wrote; "Sarah Zettel's 1997 novel, ''Fool's War'' makes an important contribution to the growing body of feminist literature about artificial intelligence, taking the relationship between bodies and information as one of its core themes".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rossier.usc.edu/faculty-and-research/directories/a-z/profile/?id=49 |title=Henry Jenkins |website=University of Southern California |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102193418/https://rossier.usc.edu/faculty-and-research/directories/a-z/profile/?id=49 |access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-date=January 2, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.mit.edu/m-i-t/science_fiction/profiles/zettel.html |title=Sarah Zettel |last=Jenkins |first=Henry |date=1998 |website=Media in Translation |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> John R. Alden of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' reviewed ''Fool's War'', stating; "Sarah Zettel's thought-provoking tale offers an energetic plot and a cast full of appealing characters".<ref>{{cite news |date=April 20, 1997 |title=Fool's War |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75120168/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> A ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' review of ''Playing God'' says; "Readers will embrace this complex, multidimensional saga (Zettel's hardcover debut, and the best of her three novels) not only for its depiction of exotic alien civilization and its action-packed plot but also for its pertinent themes of tribalism, intolerance and ecological disaster".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780446523226 |title=Playing God |website=Publishers Weekly |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref>

''Fool's War'' was included in [[Book Riot]]'s list titled "10 Chillingly Possible Sci-Fi Books About AIs Taking Over" and says, "This book does a fantastic job of capturing the tipping point that exists right before an AI wakes up and starts taking some sweet revenge for all those years of servitude".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bookriot.com/books-about-artificial-intelligence/ |title=10 Chillingly Possible Sci-Fi Books Abouts AIs Taking Over |last=Gooding-Call |first=Ann |date=June 21, 2009 |website=Book Riot |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> ''Dust Girl'',  in which the main character is of mixed race and is half-fairy, was included in a ''[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle's]]'' list titled "12 Awesome YA Novels Featuring POC Protagonists".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/150069-12-young-adult-novels-with-poc-protagonists |title=12 Awesome YA Novels Featuring POC Protagonists |last=Kovach |first=Catherine |date=March 25, 2016 |website=Bustle |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
Major awards and nominations in the science fiction and fantasy field:<ref name="Awards"/>

* [[Sidewise Awards]], works of alternate history, for "The Persistence of Souls" (The Shadow Conspiracy), nomination, 2010
* [[Otherwise Award|James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award]], for ''Playing God'', shortlist, 1999
* [[Locus Award]], for ''Fool's War'', 8th place, 1998
* [[Locus Award]], for ''Reclamation'', first novel category, winner (tie), 1997
* [[Locus Award]], for "Under Pressure" (Analog Apr 1996), short story category, finalist, 1997
* [[Philip K. Dick Award]], for ''Reclamation'', finalist, 1997
* Analog readers Poll, aka the AnLab, for "Driven by Moonlight" (Analog Dec 1991), best short story, 5th place, 1992

==Personal life==
Sarah Zettel was born in [[Sacramento, California]], on December 14, 1966.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?Sarah_Zettel |publisher=Internet Speculative Fiction Database |title=Sarah Zettel – Summary Bibliography |access-date=March 19, 2012}}</ref> Her mother Gail Beavers is a retired teacher and social worker; her father Leonard Francis Zettel Jr. is a retired engineer and programmer.<ref name="hachette"/> When she was 13, Zettel decided she wanted to write in multiple genres. While Zettel was at university, she created "shared worlds" in notebooks with her friends.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/a-conversation-with-sarah-zettel-on-women-suspense-and-the-other-sister/ |title=A conversation with Sarah Zettel, on women, suspense and 'The Other Sister' |last=Rose |first=Tessa |date=November 6, 2018 |website=The Michigan Daily |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> Zettel obtained a [[Bachelor's Degree|B.A.]] in Communication from the [[University of Michigan]].<ref name="hachette">[http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/authors/84/183/index.html Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307151246/http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/authors/84/183/index.html |date=March 7, 2008 }} at Hachette Book Group website</ref> She is married to a rocket scientist and currently lives in [[Michigan]]. She named her cat Buffy the Vermin Slayer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hmhbooks.com/author/Sarah-Zettel/12965787 |title=Sarah Zettel |website=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name="hachette"/>

==Works==
Zettel has written multiple books.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.orderofbooks.com/authors/sarah-zettel/ |title=Order of Sarah Zettel Books |website=Order Of Books |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author/darcie-wilde/ |title=Darcie Wilde |website=Kensington Books |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref>

=== Science fiction ===
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''Reclamation'' (1996)
* ''Fool's War'' (1997)
*''Playing God'' (1998)
* ''The Quiet Invasion'' (2000)
* ''Kingdom of Cages'' (2001)
* ''Bitter Angels'' (2009)
{{Div col end}}

=== Fantasy ===
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*Isavalta series
** ''A Sorcerer's Treason'' (2002)
** ''The Usurper's Crown'' (2003)
**''The Firebird's Vengeance'' (2004)
**''Sword of the Deceiver'' (2007)
{{Div col end}}{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Camelot series
** ''In Camelot's Shadow'' (2004)
** ''For Camelot's Honor'' (2005)
** ''Under Camelot's Banner'' (2006)
** ''Camelot's Blood'' (2008)
{{Div col end}}{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*The American Fairy Trilogy
** ''Dust Girl'' (2012)
** ''Golden Girl'' (2013)
** ''Bad Luck Girl'' (2014)
{{Div col end}}{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*Vampire Chef series
** ''A Taste of the Nightlife'' (#1) (2011)
** ''Let Them Eat Stake'' (#2) (2012)
{{Div col end}}

=== Mystery ===
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''Palace of Spies'' (2013)
* ''Dangerous Deceptions'' (2014)
* ''Assassin's Masque'' (2016)
{{Div col end}}{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*Rosalind Thorne series (as Darcie Wilde)
** ''A Useful Woman'' (2016)
** ''A Purely Private Matter'' (2017)
** ''And Dangerous to Know'' (2020)
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|www.sarahzettel.com}}
* {{isfdb name|id=Sarah_Zettel}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020124170354/http://scifan.com/writers/zz/ZettelSarah.asp Bibliography] on SciFan
* [http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/story-behind-golden-girl-by-sarah-zettel Story behind Golden Girl – essay] on Upcoming4.me
{{Philip K. Dick Award}}{{Locus Award Best First Novel}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zettel, Sarah}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American fantasy writers]]
[[Category:American science fiction writers]]
[[Category:American women short story writers]]
[[Category:American women novelists]]
[[Category:Writers from Sacramento, California]]
[[Category:Novelists from Michigan]]
[[Category:American women science fiction and fantasy writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American short story writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American short story writers]]
[[Category:Pseudonymous women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century pseudonymous writers]]
[[Category:21st-century pseudonymous writers]]