Amy Sterling Casil
Encyclopedia
Amy Sterling Casil is a Southern California science fiction
writer. Her writing has often included Southern California themes. Her mother, Sterling Sturtevant was an Academy Award-winning art director for animated films who worked for Playhouse Pictures, UPA and Charles Schulz.
A four-year National Merit Scholar, she graduated from Scripps College
in Claremont, CA in 1983 with bachelor's degrees in British/American Literature and Studio Art. She was the first female editor and publisher of the Claremont Colleges' newsmagazine. She twice received the Crombie Allen Award for fiction writing at the Claremont Colleges
. She attended the Clarion Science Fiction Writers Workshop at Michigan State University in 1984.
"Jonny Punkinhead," which appeared in the July 1996 New Writers issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, was her first published genre story.
Casil was the director of Family Service Association in Redlands, California from 1987 to 1997. In 1999, she received her MFA in Creative Writing from Chapman University
, Orange, CA with full honors, under committee chair James P. Blaylock. From 1998 to 2005, she taught English and creative writing at several Southern California colleges, including Chapman University and Saddleback College
. Since 2005, she has been Director of Development for the noted Los Angeles
-based nonprofit organization, Beyond Shelter.
"To Kiss the Star" was a 2002 nominee for science fiction's Nebula Award
. "Chromosome Circus" was a nominee for a HOMer Award on the CompuServe
SF and Fantasy Forum.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer. Her writing has often included Southern California themes. Her mother, Sterling Sturtevant was an Academy Award-winning art director for animated films who worked for Playhouse Pictures, UPA and Charles Schulz.
A four-year National Merit Scholar, she graduated from Scripps College
Scripps College
Scripps College is a progressive liberal arts women's college in Claremont, California, United States. It is a member of the Claremont Colleges. Scripps ranks 3rd for the nation's best women's college, ahead of Barnard College, Mount Holyoke College, and Bryn Mawr College at 23rd on the list for...
in Claremont, CA in 1983 with bachelor's degrees in British/American Literature and Studio Art. She was the first female editor and publisher of the Claremont Colleges' newsmagazine. She twice received the Crombie Allen Award for fiction writing at the Claremont Colleges
Claremont Colleges
The Claremont Colleges are a prestigious American consortium of five undergraduate and two graduate schools of higher education located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
. She attended the Clarion Science Fiction Writers Workshop at Michigan State University in 1984.
"Jonny Punkinhead," which appeared in the July 1996 New Writers issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, was her first published genre story.
Casil was the director of Family Service Association in Redlands, California from 1987 to 1997. In 1999, she received her MFA in Creative Writing from Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
, Orange, CA with full honors, under committee chair James P. Blaylock. From 1998 to 2005, she taught English and creative writing at several Southern California colleges, including Chapman University and Saddleback College
Saddleback College
The athletic programs are supported in part by the Associated Student Body at Saddleback College. Revenue generated from attendance at athletic events helps support the entire student activities program.-On-campus media outlets:*The Lariat...
. Since 2005, she has been Director of Development for the noted Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based nonprofit organization, Beyond Shelter.
"To Kiss the Star" was a 2002 nominee for science fiction's Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
. "Chromosome Circus" was a nominee for a HOMer Award on the CompuServe
CompuServe
CompuServe was the first major commercial online service in the United States. It dominated the field during the 1980s and remained a major player through the mid-1990s, when it was sidelined by the rise of services such as AOL with monthly subscriptions rather than hourly rates...
SF and Fantasy Forum.
Notable Stories
- "Jonny Punkinhead" (1996)
- "Jenny, With the Stars in Her Hair" (Writers of the Future Volume XIV) (1998)
- "My Son, My Self" (Writers of the Future Volume XV) (1999)
- "The Color of Time" (Zoetrope All-Story) (1999)
- "Chromosome Circus" (Fantasy & Science Fiction–January) (2000)
- "Mad for the Mints" (Fantasy & Science Fiction–July)
- "To Kiss the Star" (Fantasy & Science Fiction–February)
Nonfiction
- Buzz Aldrin: Pilot of the First Moon Landing (2004)
- Coping With Terrorism (2005)
- John Dewey: Founder of American Liberalism (2006)
Upcoming
- Perfect Stranger (Fantasy & Science Fiction) (2006)
- To Kiss the Star and Other Stories–short fiction collection with introduction by David Brin