Elizabeth Knox

Elizabeth Knox was born in Wellington, New Zealand and currently resides in Kelburn, Wellington. Her best known work is The Vintner's Luck, which won the Deutz Medal for Fiction, Readers' Choice and Booksellers' Choice awards at the 1999 Montana New Zealand Book Awards, was translated into French, German, Norwegian, Spanish, Dutch and Hebrew, and is being made into a film by Niki Caro.

It was also awarded the inaugural Tasmania Pacific Region Prize. More recently she has published the Dreamhunter Duet, a pair of YA/Crossover fantasy novels set in an alternate New Zealand-like republic, where dreamhunters explore 'The Place' in order to catch dreams which they then share with the paying public in large theatre-like dream palaces. The first book of the duet, Dreamhunter, won the Esther Glen Award and was an ALA Best Book for 2006. Its sequel, Dreamquake, was a Michael L. Printz Award honour book for 2008, and an ALA best book for the same year.

Elizabeth Knox is married to Fergus Barrowman, a publisher at Victoria University Press. Her son, Jack Barrowman, is a student at Wellington College.

What genres does Elizabeth Knox write in?

She writes literary fiction and fantasy, including adult literary novels and YA/crossover fantasy that often use imaginative or speculative premises.

What is the recommended reading order for the Dreamhunter books?

Read Dreamhunter first, followed by its sequel Dreamquake; together they form the Dreamhunter duet.

Which book is a good place to start for new readers?

For readers of adult literary fiction, The Vintner's Luck is her best known novel. For younger readers or those who prefer YA fantasy, start with Dreamhunter.

Has Elizabeth Knox received any major awards for her work?

Yes. The Vintner's Luck won the Deutz Medal for Fiction plus Readers' Choice and Booksellers' Choice at the 1999 Montana New Zealand Book Awards and the Tasmania Pacific Region Prize. Dreamhunter won the Esther Glen Award and was an ALA Best Book in 2006. Dreamquake was a Michael L. Printz Award honor book and an ALA Best Book in 2008.

Have any of her books been translated or adapted?

The Vintner's Luck has been translated into several languages, including French, German, Norwegian, Spanish, Dutch and Hebrew, and was reported to be in development as a film by director Niki Caro.