Sharon Lee (born September 11, 1952) is an American science fiction, fantasy and mystery author who lived in Winslow, Maine from 1988 to 2018 before moving to nearby Waterville. She is the co-author (with Steve Miller) of the Liaden universe novels and stories, as well as other works, and individually the author of several mystery and fantasy novels.
Born Sharon Lee Backof in Baltimore, Maryland, Lee graduated from Parkville Senior High School in 1970, and attended University of Maryland, Baltimore County during the late 1970s while employed as Administrative Aide to the Dean of the School of Social Work and Community Planning at the UMAB Professional Schools in downtown Baltimore. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller were married in 1980. In 1988, they relocated to central Maine, living in Winslow. In early 2018, they moved "into town" to nearby Waterville (on the other side of the Kennebec River).
Throughout her life, Lee has been employed as various flavors of secretary, as well as advertising copywriter, call-in talk hostess, nightside news copy editor, freelance reporter, photographer, book reviewer, and deliverer of tractor trailers. Beginning in August 1997, she served three years as the executive director of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and was subsequently elected vice president, then president of that organization.
Lee's first professional fiction publication was "A Matter of Ceremony," Amazing Stories, 1980. Her most notable works to date are the books in the Liaden Universe, written in conjunction with her husband, Steve Miller, published by Baen Books, and which are considered part of the space opera sub-genre. Lee and Miller also co-authored the Fey Duology - Duainfey and Longeye. Lee has written a contemporary fantasy series based in Maine - Carousel series (Archer's Beach), which includes 3 novels published by Baen Books and several short stories. In addition, she has written two Maine-based mystery novelsâÂÂBarnburner and GunshyâÂÂand several dozen short stories.
(based in Maine)
(coauthored with Steve Miller)
(coauthored with Steve Miller)
She and Steve Miller have been a Guest of Honor or Special Guest at a number of science fiction conventions, including: SiliCon (1998); SheVaCon (2000, 2003); Albacon (2002); Balticon (2003, 2016); MarsCon (2003, 2017); PortConME (2004, 2011); CONduit and Trinoc*coN (2004); Penguicon and COSine (2006); Stellarcon (2009); DucKon and Oasis (2010); ConQuesT and Chattacon (2012); Philcon (2014); Ravencon (2016); and ConFluence (2017).
Lee and Miller strongly oppose fan fiction written in their universe, with Sharon Lee stating on her website "I donâÂÂt want 'other people interpreting' our characters. Interpreting our characters is what Steve and I do; itâÂÂs our job. Nobody else is going to get it right. This may sound rude and elitist, but honestly, itâÂÂs not easy for us to get it right sometimes, and weâÂÂve been living with these characters... for a very long time... We built our universes, and our characters; they are our intellectual property; and they are not toys lying about some virtual sandbox for other kids to pick up and modify at their whim. Steve and I do not sanction fanfic written in our universes; any such work that exists, exists without our permission, and certainly without our support."