What makes Juliet Marillier your winner?

[drosdelnoch]

Well after a hard fought battle to get to the final five, Juliet is still standing tall, so why do you support this campaign for her to win the first David Gemmell Legend Award?

[Satima Flavell]

When I read the early posts on the site I wondered why some of the writers on the long list had been nominated. Juliet Marillier was one such; even though she is a favourite of mine I thought this wasn't the right place for her because her writing is nothing like David Gemmell's. When she made it to the short list I both delighted and puzzled - delighted because she is not only a fine writer but a lovely lady (and a denizen of the Antipodes to boot) and puzzled because - well - her work is still nothing like David Gemmell's!

But when I read your post that says '...when we say we are looking for someone who writes in “the spirit of” David Gemmell, what do we actually mean?

• Skillfully – with a pace that draws you in and doesn’t let you go – you know, books that you’re STILL reading at three in the morning!

• Very strong characterisation – characters you root for and care about.

• A world you can believe in straight away.'

...I realised that Juliet Marilllier is as eligible for the award as anyone on the short list with her "Heir to Sevenwaters". Her work is pacy and engaging, with strong characters I care about and a deeply believable Celtic world inhabited by the Old Ones and other Fae beings as well as humans. All the characters, whatever their race, are multi-dimensional and we see the main characters grow in self-knowledge over the course of the story.

And what a story! It had me on the edge of my seat in many parts and certainly kept me up until 3.00am once or twice:-)

What's more, I would never have thought that I could love a baby made of sticks and stones, but thanks to Juliet's skillful writing, I soon did. That's the crux of the whole thing, for me. In reading Heir to Sevenwaters I learnt a little bit more about what it means to be human. Books that do that as well as Juliet Marillier's are definitely award material.

But this is a strong field and I wish all the candidates luck. They are writers who have brought a lot of reading pleasure to a lot of people, and they all deserve awards just for that.

[Deborah J Miller - Award Administrator]

Thanks, Satima, for such a great opening post & recommendation of Juliet's work.

I've exchanged a few emails with Juliet since the announcment of the Shortlist and she's thrilled to have made it to the final five!

Juliet is currently under-going treatment for breast cancer - but she's doing really, really well and has an excellant prognosis - I am a 6 year survivor myself, & can fully sympathise... She does come over to the UK each year though, and fingers crossed, will be able to come to the Awards event in June!

I'm looking forward to reading 'Heir to Sevenwaters' - am planning to read all the Shortlist asap!

[Satima Flavell]

It's easy to recommend a book you've enjoyed by an author whose work resonates, isn't it?:-)

I am really glad that people are coming out of the woodwork to support Juliet in resolving such an unfortunate health concern. People like you, Deborah, who have undergone similar procedures, must be particularly encouraging for a person in a like situation.

I'm off to drum up more support among fans so Juliet makes the best possible showing in the award race. After all she's the only woman and the only Antipodean author, so is worth barracking for just on those grounds!

[Melanie G. Hechenberger]

How is Juliet Marillier’s novel Heir to Sevenwaters ‘In the spirit of David Gemmell’? To put it plainly, Gemmell puts his characters through the same kind of hardships as Marillier does. Clodagh’s loyalty to her family, combined with their joint refusal to see that she was not to blame for what happened, incites her to embark on this quest for redemption. When she sets out, the feat looms over her like a cliff she could not possibly scour, yet she knows that she must. And there you have it: a Gemmell “all odds are against them” saturation. And Clodagh does manage to scour the cliff…with some otherworldly help :D

[Kernos]

I did not vote for Juliet for reasons I gave in the Assassin's Guild. But Juliet is my all time favorite historical fantasy, mythological fantasy writer. I cannot give her enough accolades or expressions of greatness, especially as Celtic Studies is my avocation.

I did not vote for her for this award, because she is an established writer who has won many awards, and I thought it important to support a new writer.

I have yet to read Heir to Sevenwaters, though it is on my book shelf, because I want to re-read all the Sevenwaters books again. This is a habit of mine when a new book comes out in a series. Indeed I will likely re-read all her books again.

She has explored Éire, Caithness, the Orkneys and Faroes and I am hoping she will extend her works to include the fascinating Welsh myths and legends and maybe even those of the Cornish, Breton and Manx, though these are rather obscure.

Bill

[Deema Ashurst]

Why Juliet? well...why not? Lets see...she is the only author whose books i read over and over every year. What makes them so special is that everytime i reread one of her books, my level of excitement is the same as it was the first time. Heir to Sevenwaters i have read twice already. Her style of writing lures you in with its poetic essence. I cared about the characters, and it takes a skilled author to make you love and care about the chatacters and think about them when the book has ended. I love the way she introduced alot more of the fairy world....we always had a glimpse but this time it was elaborated. So many beautiful ideas are in this book. Storytellers, a man who is a mystery, the fairy world, love, adventure and courage, a fairy child, history. All my favourite themes. So yes...Juliet made me care about characters and stories like no other author has before. This story is gorgeous and it deserves to win in my opinion.

[Babi]

I've been following Juliet Marilliar's work since I read "The Daughter of the Forest", a book that made me cry, smile and also fascinate me. I love her strong characters (specially when young and simple women show a great streangth). All the mythology, the love, the magic, the enchanted creatures she is able to insert in her books really hook me up.

"Heir to Sevewaters" didn't disapointed me. I've read the book in such delight, I felt involved with the characters and the story, the environments too.

Sometimes I think I'm right there with the characters... Isn't that what a good book is capable of?

[Heidi B]

I was given "Daughter of the Forrest" as a present 10 years ago and after it sat on my book shelf for a few months I reluctantly decided to read it - I never expected to receive the so much pleasure from reading it! As a child I read just about every Fairy Tale in print and one of my all time favorites was "The Six Swans", I adored Juliets adaptation of this wonderful story and couldn't wait to get my hands on "Son of the Shadows" and "Child of the Prophecy", both proving to the perfect accompaniment to the "Sevenwaters Trilogy". "Heir to Sevenwaters" is another outstanding example of Juliet's talent to extend upon this wonderful Celtic tale full of history, magic and of course adventure. Full of strong believable characters who are instantly identifiable that are so well crafted that they remain in your thoughts long after you have put the book down. I wish Juliet good luck for this award and also strength for her up coming health challenge I know like her wonderful characters she will overcome "this bump in the road" and triumph shall be hers.