Michael J Sullivan

New York Times Bestselling Fantasy Author

Press

For those writing reviews or articles, here is a handy reference of graphics and biographic information.

Biographic Information:

  • Born: 1961 (Detroit, Michigan)
  • Current Residence: Luray, VA – inside the Shenandoah Valley 
  • Married: 1984 Robin Sullivan
  • Children: Rebecca Sullivan (1987), Sarah Sullivan (1989), James Sullivan (1994)
  • Parents: Anna Mae Berels (deceased) , James Francis Sullivan (deceased)
  • Siblings: John Patrick Sullivan, Colleen Savatora, Noreen Allen (deceased)

Writing Stats:

  • Writing Degree: None
  • Age when writing started: 9
  • Full-time author: Since 2011
  • Number of books sold when self-publishing: 90,000+ (70,000 paid for)
  • Number of books sold in traditional publishing: 2 million+
  • Number of Goodreads Choice Award Nominations: 9
  • Number of Years on Amazon’s Bestselling Fantasy Author list: 6.25
  • Number of novels written novels: 32
  • Number of “trunk novels”: 13
  • Number of books in print: 18
  • Number of books out of print: 6
  • Number of works written waiting for publication: 1
  • Number of big-five contracts: 3 (11 books)
  • Number of independent press contracts: 2 (1 book each)
  • Number of self-published books: 14
  • Number of foreign language translations: 100+

Publishers

  • 2008: Aspirations Media Inc. (small press)
  • 2009 – 2012: Ridan Publishing (self)
  • 2011 – 2013: Orbit (Hachette Book Group: US | Little Brown & Company: UK)
  • 2014: Tachyon Publications (small press)
  • 2015-2017: Riyria Enterprises (self)
  • 2016 – 2018: Del Rey (Penguin Random House)
  • 2019 – 2021: Riyria Enterprises (self) & Grim Oak Press (hardcover distribution)

Agents:

  • Current Agency: Joshua Bilmes, JABberwocky Literary Agency
  • Former Agent: Laurie McLean, Foreword Literary Agency (CA)
  • Former Foreign Agent: Taryn Fargernesss: Taryn Fagerness Agency (WA)
  • Former Agent: Teri Tobias, Tobias Literary Agency, (NY)
  • Former Television and Film Agent: Brandy Rivers, The Gersh Agency (CA & NY)

Bibliography:

The Riyria Revelations (Omnibus Editions)

  • Theft of Swords (Nov 2011): contains The Crown Conspiracy  & Avempartha
  • Rise of Empire (Dec 2011): contains Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm
  • Heir of Novron (Jan 2012): contains Wintertide & Percepliquis

The Riyria Chronicles

  • The Crown Tower (Sep 2013)
  • The Rose and the Thorn (Oct 2013)
  • Blood of Thieves (Jan 2014): contains The Crown Tower & The Rose and the Thorn
  • The Death of Dulgath (Dec 2015)
  • The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter  (Dec 2017)
  • Drumindor (Release TBD)

Standalone Novels

  • Hollow World (Apr 2014)
  • Antithesis (on hold)
  • A Burden to the Earth (on hold)

The Legends of the First Empire

  • Age of Myth (Jun 2016)
  • Age of Swords (July 2017)
  • Age of War (July 2018)
  • Age of Legend (July 2019)
  • Age of Death (Feb 2020)
  • Age of Empyre (May 2020)

The Rise and Fall

  • Nolyn (July 2021)
  • Fairlane (June 2022)
  • Esarhaddon (August 2023)

Out-of-print self-published editions of The Riyria Revelations

  • The Crown Conspiracy (Oct 2008)
  • Avempartha (Apr 2009)
  • Nyphron Rising (Oct 2009)
  • The Emerald Storm (April 2010) 
  • Wintertide (Oct 2010)
  • Percepliquis (Jan 2012)

Anthologies

  • Heroes Wanted (2019)
  • Unfettered II (2016)
  • Unbound (2015)
  • Blackguards (2015)
  • Fantasy Faction Anthology (2014)
  • Help Fund my Robot Army (2014)
  • Unfettered (2013)
  • The End–Visions of Apocalypse (2013)
  • Triumph Over Tragedy: an Anthology for the Victims of Hurricane Sandy (2013)
  • Ditch the Publisher: 40 Indie Authors on Their Unique Self-Publishing Journeys (2012)
  • Twists and Turns (2011)

Standalone Short Stories

  • The Viscount and the Witch (Oct 2011)
  • Greener Grass (Oct 2012)
  • The Jester (Jan 2014)
  • Pile of Bones (May 2020)

Awards and Accolades

Author 

  • New York Times (3), USA Today (3), Washington Post (8), and Amazon Bestselling Author
  • Goodreads Choice Award Nominee (9): 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
  • Amazon Editor’s Picks (6)
  • 2018 Stabby Award Winner – Best Professional Contributor
  • 2017 Stabby Award Runner Up for Most Active Fantasy Professional
  • 2016 Finalist Reddit’s Fantasy Stabby Award: Best Active Author
  • io9’s Most Successful Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors
  • EMG’s 25 Self-published Authors to Watch
  • Huffington Post’s Bestseller Self-published Success Stories
  • 2013 Stabby Award Winner for best overall contributor
  • 2013 Bookworm Blue’s Authors to Pay Attention to
  • 2013 Fantasy Book Critic’s Authors to Watch

The Rise and Fall: Esrahaddon

The Rise and Fall: Farilane

The Rise and Fall: Nolyn

The Legends of the First Empire: Age of Myth

  • Washington Post Bestseller List September 2018  (#6 Fiction Hardcover)
  • Amazon ebook Bestseller (#93 Week ending 3-19-2017)
  • Washington Post Bestseller List April 2019 (#3 Hardcover)
  • Amazon Editor’s Pick
  • Winter is coming’s10 epic sci-fi and fantasy series to read in lockdown
  • Book Riot’s 10 Epic Fantasy Books Like Wheel of Time
  • Audible Top 10 Bestseller (May 5, 2016)
  • 2016 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fantasy
  • Reedsy’s 45 Best Fantasy Audiobooks
  • The best epic fantasy novels to deprive you of sleep
  • 10 Best Fantasy & Sci-Fi Audiobooks
  • Ezvid’s Top 12 Fantasy Series That Build Expansive Worlds
  • Fantasy Faction’s Best Fantasy Books of 2016
  • 2016 Audible’s Genre Defining Narrators
  • 34 Must-Read New Fantasy & Sci-fi books in 2016
  • Dragons & Jetpacks Top Summer Fantasy Reads
  • The Speculative Shelf’s Top 6 picks of 2016
  • Bookworm Blues Best of 2016
  • 2016 Winner Reddit’s Fantasy Stabby Award: Best Artwork
  • 2016 Finalist Reddit’s Fantasy Stabby Award: Best Novel
  • 2016 BestFantasyBooks.com Best Fantasy Books of the Year
  • 2016 Reading Lamp’s Highlights of the Year
  • 2016 The Grim Dark Files Blog Best Read Books
  • 2016 Spike’s Top 6 Books of the Year
  • 2016 Most-Wished-For Sci-fi and Fantasy Audiobook
  • 2016 Audible Best of 2016
  • 2016 The Quill to Live Best of 2016
  • 2016 AudioFile Magazine Best of 2016
  • Book Riot’s list of 10 Fantasy Novels like Wheel of Time
  • 2016 Amazon’s 20 best fantasy & sci-novels
  • 2016 BestFantasyBooks.com Most Anticipated Fantasy Books
  • Named to Blackgate’s Future Treasures
  • Washington Post Bestseller List July 2016 (#2 Fiction Hardcover)
  • Audiofile Earphones Award Winner
  • Barnes & Noble Bestsellers in Science Fiction & Fantasy: September 2016
  • Barnes & Noble Bestsellers in Science Fiction & Fantasy: August 2016
  • Barnes & Noble Bestselling Sci-Fi and Fantasy books of July 2016
  • BuzzFeed Book’s 21 Books Goodreads Users Can’t Get Enough Of This Summer
  • Named a Noteworthy Release by Fantasy Book Critic
  • Named to Black Gate’s Future Treasures List
  • Goodread’s Hottest Fantasy Books of Summer 
  • Barnes and Noble Featured Sci-fi/Fantasy release of the week
  • Book Riot’s 10 Fantasy Books like Wheel of Time
  • Audible’s Featured Pre-order Selection
  • Barnes and Noble’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of June 2016
  • Audible’s Top Pick for Summer 2016
  • YA Fantasy Book Reviews Exciting June 2016 Fantasy and Sci-fi Book Releases 
  • Ten 2016 SF/F Releases with Killer Elevator Pitches
  • Barnes and Noble’s 2016 Books SF/F Editors Want You to Read
  • Goodreads Top 200 Most Popular Books Published in 2016
  • Goodreads Top 200 Most Popular Books Published in June 2016 (AoM is #2)
  • Geekritique’s The Most Anticipated Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2016
  • inverse.com’s Fantasy Books we can’t wait to read in 2016
  • Best Fantasy Books HQ’s Ultimate 2016 Fantasy Book Reading Calendar
  • Nerd Much Most Anticipated Reads of 2016
  • Bookworm Blue’s Most Anticipated Books of 2016
  • Beauty in Ruin’s Most Anticipated Fantasy Reads of 2016
  • Book Haven’s Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases
  • Tenacious Reader’s Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases
  • Arched Doorway’s 15 SF&F Novels We’re Anticipating in 2016
  • Funzines’ Top 6 Anticipated Fantasy Reads of 2016
  • Goodreads’ 2016 Highly Anticipated Fantasy (AoM is #3)

The Legends of the First Empire: Age of Swords

  • USA Today Bestseller List
  • Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fantasy
  • Amazon Editor’s Pick
  • Fantasy Faction’s Top 20 Books of 2017
  • Fantasy Book Review’s Top 100 List
  • BookNest Fantasy Awards Short List For Best Traditional Fantasy of 2017
  • Washington Post Bestseller List (#7 Fiction Hardcover)
  • 20117 Best Fantasy of the Year Nominee from BookNest
  • 2017 Audible’s July Customer Favorites
  • Unbound Worlds: Top 10 2017 Fantasy Novels I Want Now
  • BestFantasyBooks.com’s Most Highly Anticipated books of 2017
  • July’s Highest-Rated Books on Audible
  • Amazon’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of August 2017
  • #1 Bestselling Audiobook (week ending July 28)
  • 2017 The Speculative Shelf’s Most Anticipated Reads
  • 2017 MightyThorJRS Most Anticipated Reads 
  • Goodreads Top 200 Most Popular Books Published in July 2017

The Legends of the First Empire: Age of War

  • New York Times Bestseller List
  • USA Today Bestseller List
  • Washington Post Bestseller List April 2019 (#12 Fiction Hardcover)
  • Goodreads Choice Award Nominee in Fantasy
  • Amazon Editor’s Pick
  • BookNest Best Fantasy of 2018 shortlist
  • 15 Best Sci-fi & Fantasy Books: April 2018
  • 100 Best Sci-fi & Fantasy of 2018
  • Goodreads12 Best Fantasy books of 2018 (so far)
  • Washington Post Bestseller List September 2018  (#3 Fiction Hardcover)
  • /r/Fantasy Stabby Award Nominee for Best Novel of 2018
  • Books of my Heart best books of 2018
  • Jon Auerbach’s Top 3 books of 2018
  • Runner-up July Cover of the Month 
  • Top 10 Bestselling Audiobooks of July 8, 2018
  • B&N’s Fantasy Blog’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books of July 2018
  • io9’s 29 New Scifi and Fantasy Books to Add to Your Reading List in July
  • Barnes & Noble Fantasy Blog’s featured releases for July
  • Goodread’s Hottest Fantasy Books of the Summer
  • Audible’s Featured Pre-order
  • Goodread’s Employee Summer Reading Picks
  • Audible’s Most-Anticipated of the Season
  • Nerd Much’s Best New Upcoming Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books of 2018 List
  • Goodreads Top 200 Most Popular Books Published in July 2018

The Legends of the First Empire: Age of Legend

The Legends of the First Empire: Age of Death

The Legends of the First Empire: Age of Empyre

Hollow World

Riyria Chronicles: The Crown Tower

Riyria Chronicles: The Rose and the Thorn

Riyria Chronicles: The Death of Dulgath

Riyria Chronicles: The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter

The Riyria Revelations

The Riyria Revelations: Theft of Swords (The Crown Conspiracy & Avempartha)

The Riyria Revelations: Rise of Empire / Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm

  • 2020 FanFiAddict’s Top 10 Favorite Single Books of All Time
  • 2015 MYLIFEMYBOOKSMYESCAPE‘s Top 16 books of 2015 (The Emerald Storm)
  • 2012 Mathias Cavanaugh Top 10 Books (#3) (Rise of Empire)
  • 2012 Timothy C. Ward Top 10 Reads (#8) (Rise of Empire)
  • 2012 Patrick’s Book Awards (#9) (Rise of Empire)
  • 2011 Goodreads 200 Most Popular Books Published in December (RoE is #24)
  • 2011 Civilian Reader’s 6 Most Anticipated Reads for Dec (Rise of Empire)
  • 2010 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fantasy (The Emerald Storm)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic #1 Indie Fantasy (The Emerald Storm)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top 25 Novels for (The Emerald Storm)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic: Cindy’s Anticipated Reads List (The Emerald Storm)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top Independent Novels (The Emerald Storm)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top 12 Novels as of First Quarter (The Emerald Storm)
  • 2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist (Nyphron Rising)

The Riyria Revelations: Heir of Novon / Wintertide & Percepliquis

  • 2015 Audible.com’s 5-star Faves for September
  • 2015 MYLIFEMYBOOKSMYESCAPE‘s Top 16 books of 2015 (Wintertide)
  • 2012 SFWorld’s Top 10 Favorite Books (Percepliquis)
  • 2012 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee (Percepliquis)
  • 2012 Audible’s August Customer Favorites (Heir of Novron)
  • 2012 Goodreads 200 Most Popular Books Published in January (HoN is #47)
  • 2012 Bookworm Blues Top 10 (#4) (Percepliquis)
  • 2012 Founding Field’s Best Books (Percepliquis)
  • 2012 Shadowhawk Shade’s Best of the Best Part 1 (Heir of Novron)
  • 2012 Patrick’s Book Awards (#10) (Heir of Novron)
  • 2012 Bane of King’s Best Novels of First Half of 2012 (Percepliquis)
  • 2012 GoddessCarlie Top 5: #2 (Heir of Novron)
  • 2012 Mathias Cavanaugh’s Top 10 Books (#4) (Heir of Novron)
  • 2012 Only the Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books I’m Looking Forward To
  • 2012 Shadowhawk Shade’s Reading Award for February (Percepliquis)
  • 2012 Fantasy Book Critic’s Top 5 Anticipated Releases for Q1 (Heir of Novron)
  • 2012 Civilian Reader’s 6 Most Anticipated Reads for January (Heir of Novron)
  • 2012 Staffer’s Review’s Books I Most Want to Read in Early 2012 (Heir of Novron)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic #1 Indie Fantasy (Wintertide)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top 25 Novels (Wintertide)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic: Cindy’s Anticipated Reads List (Wintertide)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top Independent Novels (Wintertide)
  • 2010 Fantasy Book Critic Top 5 Novels of Second Half of 2010 (Wintertide)

Anthologies

Reviews:

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Michael J Sullivan

I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations.

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