Featured Author: Lian Hearn

Lian Hearn is the pen name of children's book author Gillian Rubinstein, an English-born woman who has lived in Australia since 1973. As Lian Hearn, she writes a series of historical fantasy novels called Tales of the Otori, set in a fictional nation that resembles feudal Japan and which is aimed at  young adult and adult audiences.

The Tales were originally published as a trilogy, but now a sequel and a prequel have been added to the mix. The books in the trilogy consist of two episodes each; you can read a couple of the episodes in a one- or two-volume format - the two-volume format features books that are quite small. The trilogy is the story of Takeo, a young warrior with special powers, and "his struggles to avenge an adoptive father, escape the legacy of his biological father, and pursue the love of his life in the midst of an enormous power struggle involving dozens of clan lords and thousands of warriors." [Wikipedia] 


Across the Nightingale Floor
Episode 1, The Sword of the Warrior
Episode 2, Journey to Inuyama

Grass for His Pillow
Episode 1, Lord Fujiwara's Treasures
Episode 2, The Way Through the Snow

Brilliance of the Moon
Episode 1, Battle for Maruyama
Episode 2, Scars of Victory

The Harsh Cry of the Heron (sequel)

Heaven's Net is Wide (prequel)

Links

Lian Hearn website

Gillian Rubinstein website

Lian Hearn on writing about other cultures

An interview with Lian Hearn