Judith McNaught
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| Pseudonym: | Judith McNaught |
|---|---|
| Born: | 1944 USA  |
| Occupation: | Novelist |
| Nationality: | United States of America |
| Writing period: | 1978 - Present |
| Genres: | Romance, Suspense |
| Debut works: | Tender triumph |
| Website: | http://www.JudithMcNaught.com |
Judith McNaught (b. 1944) is a bestselling author of over a dozen historical and contemporary romance novels, with 30 million copies of her works in print.[1] She was also the first female executive producer at a CBS radio station. McNaught is credited with inventing the modern Regency Historical romance subgenre.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Path to Becoming a Writer
Before gaining success as a writer, McNaught has previously worked as an assistant director for a film crew, an assistant comptroller of a major trucking company, president of a temporary employment agency, and president of an executive search firm.[3] She also was the first female executive producer at a CBS radio station.[4]
McNaught's first manuscript was Whitney, My Love, which she wrote between 1978 and 1982. After having difficulty selling that novel, she wrote and sold Tender Triumph in early 1982. She received the book cover for Tender Triumph on June 20, 1983 -- the day after her beloved husband Michael McNaught was killed in an accident.[2]
[edit] Success
Whitney, My Love, the first manuscript, was finally published in 1986, after McNaught had proven herself with two successful published novels. The book is now credited with inventing the genre today known as the Regency Historical. Whitney, My Love captured the elements of the traditional Regency romance, but its long length, sensuality, and emotional intensity were more often associated with the traditional historical romance, which were rarely set during the Regency period. Despite the many years it took to sell the story, it was very successful, and its success influenced other editors to solicit manuscripts written in the same style.[5]
At the beginning of McNaught's writing career, she was one of a very few authors writing for the historical romance market. By 1985, however, the genre had exploded, and over 50 new historical romances were being published each month, many of them full-length historicals set in the Regency period like McNaughts. Despite her years of success in the historical romance genre, in 1990 McNaught switched genres to write contemporary romances, hopeful that she would have a better opportunity to distinguish her work in a less-saturated market. As her career has continued to mature, McNaught has gradually introduced elements of suspense into her writing.[2] Regardless of their genre, however, tend to be fast-paced, with strong, loyal, compassionate and intelligent heroines.[3]
McNaught was one of the first romance authors to receive a multi-million dollar contract and have her novels published in hardcover, better positioning them for review by major publications.[2] She reached the New York Times Bestseller List for the first time in 1988,[3] and all of her subsequent books have also placed on the NYT Bestseller List.[4] She was the keynote speaker at the RWA Conference in 1996,[2] and in 1997, Texas Womens Monthly selected her among their four favorite authors, with John Grisham, Patricia Cornwell, and Dean Koontz.[6] She has also been awarded a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, and had a Number 1 New York Times Bestseller with the romantic suspense Night Whispers.[1]
[edit] Personal Life
While McNaught at one time lived in Saint Louis, Missouri, she moved to Texas after falling in love with Dallas while on a book tour. She currently lives in Clear Lake, Texas. McNaught is active in children's charity and with breast cancer causes, and she has recently begun promoting literacy issues. After creating a subplot on literacy in her novel Perfect, McNaught asked her publishers to include a response card in the book packaging. Because of its inclusion, thousands of women who had read the book volunteered to become tutors and help people learn to read.[3]
McNaught has a daughter, Whitney, and a son, Clayton, and has remarried to Don Smith.
[edit] Selected Awards
- 1985 - Romantic Times Award for Best New Historical, Whitney, My Love
- 1986 - Romantic Times Critic's Choice Award for Best SuperRomance
- 1987 - Affaire de Coeur Golden Pen Certificate, Once and Always
- 1987 - Affaire de Coeur Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Romance, Once and Always
[edit] Bibliography
- Tender Triumph (1983)
- Double Standards (1984)
- Someone to Watch Over Me (2003)
[edit] Westmoreland Dynasty Series
- A Kingdom of Dreams (1989)
- Whitney, My Love (1985)
- Until You (1994)
- "Miracles" in A HOLIDAY OF LOVE (October 1995) & in SIMPLE GIFTS: Four Heartwarming Christmas Stories (1997)
[edit] Secuels Series
- Once and Always (1987)
- Something Wonderful (1988)
- Almost Heaven (1990)
[edit] Paradise Series
- Paradise (1991)
- Perfect (1993)
- Night Whispers (1998)
- Every Breath You Take (2005)
[edit] Foster Family Series
- "Double exposure" in A GIFT OF LOVE (1995)
- Remember When (1996)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Judith McNaught. Simon and Schuster. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Gold, Laurie (October 7, 1999). Interview with Judith McNaught. LaurieLikesBooks.Com. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Dromgoole, Glen (March 16, 2003). McNaught couldn't play the piano, so she wrote bestsellers instead. The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
- ^ a b About JM. MCNaughtized.Com. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
- ^ Coleman, Sandy (January 2006). Interview with Judith McNaught - 2006. LaurieLikesBooks.Com. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
- ^ Falk, Kathryn (1998). Cameo/Excerpt of Night Whispers by Judith McNaught. Romantic Times Book Reviews. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
