Catherine Ann Asaro (born November 6, 1955) is an American science fiction and fantasy author, singer, and teacher. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty, called the Saga of the Skolian Empire. The author of more than twenty-five books, Catherine Asaro is acclaimed for her Ruby Dynasty series, which combines adventure, science, romance, and fast-paced action. Her novel The Quantum Rose won the Nebula® Award, as did her novella “The Spacetime Pool.” Among her many other distinctions, she is a multiple winner of the AnLab from Analog magazine and a three-time recipient of the RT BOOKClub Award for “Best Science Fiction Novel." Her most recent novel, Carnelians, came out in October 2011. An anthology of her short fiction titled Aurora in Four Voices is available from ISFiC Press in hardcover, and her multiple award-winning novella “The City of Cries” is also available as an eBook.