Mercedes Lackey is a New York Times bestselling author with nearly 150 books to her name. She began writing in her teens, developing her skills through fan fiction and later receiving mentorship from renowned author C.J. Cherryh. After moving to Oklahoma in the 1980s while working as a computer programmer, she published her first novel in 1985 and soon launched a prolific career. Her many series—including Valdemar, Elemental Masters, 500 Kingdoms, and Secret World Chronicles—have been translated into multiple languages, and she continues to be a major force in fantasy literature.Andre Norton, born Alice Mary Norton in 1912, was a groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy author whose career spanned more than 70 years and over 130 novels, including the influential Witch World and Beast Master series. A former librarian, she became the first woman to receive both the Gandalf Grand Master Award and the SFWA Grand Master Award, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1997. Known for her vivid world-building and coming-of-age themes, her legacy continues through the annual Andre Norton Award for young adult speculative fiction named in her honor.