Writer

Robert Marston Fanne'y

Robert Fannéy was born on November 4, 1972 in Southeastern Virginia. He lived in Virginia Beach, VA for much of his younger life and currently resides in Old Town Portsmouth with his wife, Catherine, and two talkative Maine Coon cats.

The scenic Seashore State Park and the frothy Atlantic Ocean bordered Robert's world as a child. Ever changing and full of mystery, both were an inspiration to Robert as he set out to create the fantastic settings of Oesha and the Vale of Mists. A surfer since a very young age, Robert has felt a deep connection with nature and finds that his most spiritual times are while sitting on a tiny surfboard upon a vast ocean or laying on the sand beneath an even vaster sea of stars.

As a teen, Robert often wrote short stories and poems about his adventures. He made frequent trips to the library and book store and read widely. Some of his favorite books were Michael Ende's The Neverending Story, Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn, Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising, Roger Zelazney's Chronicles of Amber, and Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain.

Robert was also inspired by the strong women in his life and, while attending the gothic Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL, he began writing a female epic fantasy which he later named Luthiel's Song. Despite numerous hardships, Robert continued to write throughout much of his adult life. He worked at a number of different jobs -- waiting tables, serving as a police officer, and even working as a coordinating editor and author for a well known niche publisher -- Jane's Information Group. During his time at Jane's Robert edited and contributed to over 15 books and magazines and co-authored Jane's Citizen Safety Guide.

Robert was able to put his experience -- both in writing and in life -- to good use and finally, after nine years, Robert had a completed first novel. With the help of his friend Matthew Friedman, a talented artist by the name of Siya Oum, and his wife Catherine, Robert decided to self publish. He started a boutique publishing house named Dark Forest Press and in six months produced a professional quality fantasy novel.

Robert spent the year promoting the book himself. Beginning with online promotion and talks at local libraries, and high schools, Robert has given over 40 presentations at libraries, schools, and bookstores and now is one of the most popular authors on myspace with over 50,000 fans

Robert is currently working on book 2 in the Luthiel's Song series -- The War of Mists -- which he hopes will print by the end of 2006.

writers@shevacon.org .

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