Sebastien de Castell

Sebastien de Castell has been nominated for several science fiction and fantasy awards, starting with his first novel, Traitor's Blade, being nominated for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer and the David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy. Two novels in his Spellslinger series would see him nominated for Grand prix de l'Imaginaire and the Sunburst Award, as well as the winner of the Elbakin.net Award. De Castell has stated his interest in writing "optimistic but flawed heroes", saying that it was the type of heroes he enjoyed reading about as a kid, but placed "in an environment that had some of the depth and darkness".^[2]

All five of his series are set in the same multiverse.^[3] The Greatcoats and The Court of Shadows series are set on the same continent as each other (Tristia) with overlapping characters; The Spellslinger and Argosi series are likewise set on the same continent as each (Eldrasia) other with overlapping characters but also on the same world as the other two series. No characters overlap between those sets of series. The Fifth series takes place on a different plane of existence; but people originating in Eldrasia cross over into that world. It is not mentioned when the 3 sets of series happen in relation to each other.

De Castell has at various times worked as a full-time musician, an interaction designer, teacher, project manager, fight choreographer, actor and more.^[4] Before publishing his first novel, de Castell worked at the Vancouver Film School.^[5]