Ari Berk
Ari Berk is an American writer, folklorist, artist, and a scholar of literature, iconography, and comparative myth. He holds degrees in ancient history, American Indian Studies, and a comparative literature and culture degree from Humboldt State University and the University of Arizona. The latter is from the University of Arizona. His dissertation was directed by Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday and Berk was appointed to the committee which developed the first American Indian Studies doctoral program in the United States.
Career
Berk is the author of numerous books for children and adults. He collaborated with fairy artist Brian Froud on The Runes of Elfland and Goblins!, and was one of the authors of the Lady Cottington series, along with Terry Jones and others. Berk began his interactive Secret History children's mythology series in the mid-2000s with The Secret History of Giants, and then wrote The Secret History of Mermaids and Merfolk and The Secret History of Hobgoblins. The Secret History of Giants won both a 2008 Recommended Parents' Choice Award and a 2009 Notable Award from The National Council of Teachers of English.
He is a professor of English at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant and teaches mythology, folklore, American Indian studies, and medieval literature. Berk is the former editor of the Folksroots section of Realms of Fantasy magazine. He sits on the board of directors of the Mythic Imagination Institute based in Atlanta. He was born in California and grew up in the state. He lives in Michigan with his wife and son.
Awards
The Secret History of Giants: Recommended Award 2008, Parents' Choice AwardThe Secret History of Giants: Notable Award 2009, The National Council of Teachers of EnglishWilliam Shakespeare: His Life and Times: Children's Choice Award 2010, School Library Association
Books
Undertaken Trilogy: Lych Way, Simon & SchusterUndertaken Trilogy: Mistle Child, Simon & SchusterUndertaken Trilogy: Death Watch, Simon & SchusterNightsong, Simon and SchusterThe Secret History of Hobgoblins, Templar BooksWilliam Shakespeare His Life and Times, Templar BooksThe Secret History of Mermaids and Merfolk, Templar BooksHow To Be A Viking, Templar BooksCoyote Speaks, Abrams BooksThe Secret History of Giants, Templar BooksLady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Letters, Abrams BooksGoblins!, Abrams BooksThe Runes of Elfland, Abrams Books
Magazine articles
Back Over the Wall - Charles Vess Revisits the World of Stardust, Realms of FantasyThe Lore of Simple Things - Milk, Honey, and Bread in Myth and Legend, Realms of FantasyThe Dance of the Labryrinth, Realms of FantasyThe Song of the Sampo - Mystery and the Numinous in the Kalevala, Realms of FantasyWhere the White Stag Runs - Boundary and Transformation in Deer Myths, Realms of FantasyPenance, Power and Pursuit - On the Trail of the Wild Hunt, Realms of FantasyA Rune With A View: An Introduction To The Visionary Alphabet of the Northern World, Realms of FantasyOf Travels and Travails - Imagination, Landscape and Narrative, Language Arts Journal of Michigan
Poems
Anatomy, Winter Finds the World on Fire, Rings, A Rune of Loss, Night Thoughts, Creative Journal VIINight Thoughts: Sheherazade, Endicott Studio Online JournalAnatomies, The Quest for the Green ManBag of Medicine and Wind, Endicott Studio Online JournalPaserik Burial, Endicott Studio Online Journal
Screenplays
Lanval, Shared Legends Project
Short stories
Missing Limb, Ravens In The Library