Brittany Nightshade

Born Eleanor Marie Robertson on October 10, 1950, Nora Roberts is an American author celebrated for her extensive body of work, encompassing over 225 novels. She is most recognized for her romance novels published under her birth name. Additionally, she crafts police procedurals with science fiction elements as J. D. Robb, and has also used the pseudonyms Jill March and Sarah Hardesty. Roberts' writing career began unexpectedly during a blizzard in 1979, leading to a prolific output that has garnered significant commercial success and critical acclaim within the romance genre.

Roberts' personal life includes a history of two marriages and two sons. She met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, a carpenter, in 1985. They co-owned the historic Boone Hotel in Boonsboro, Maryland, which was later restored and reopened as the Inn BoonsBoro, featuring suites named after literary romantic couples. She is also a dedicated baseball fan. Her writing process involves dedicated daily writing sessions and a method of envisioning key story elements before drafting, followed by revisions to add depth and polish.

Nora Roberts' literary journey began in 1981 with the publication of "Irish Thoroughbred" under the pseudonym Nora Roberts, a name derived from her birth name, Eleanor Marie Robertson. This pseudonym was adopted as she believed romance authors typically used pen names. Her prolific output quickly led her to write numerous novels for Silhouette Books. By 1985, her MacGregor family series began, with "Playing the Odds" becoming a bestseller. Her transition to single-title books for larger publishers like Bantam and Putnam saw her achieve bestseller status, with "Montana Sky" being a notable hardcover release. Roberts also continues to write shorter category romances, understanding the need for accessible reading for busy individuals.

Seeking to explore romantic suspense, Roberts adopted the pseudonym J. D. Robb at the suggestion of her publishers who wished to release more of her work annually. The name "J. D." is an homage to her sons, Jason and Dan, while "Robb" is a shortened version of her surname. Under this moniker, Roberts writes the "in Death" series, a collection of futuristic science fiction police procedurals set in mid-21st century New York City. These novels center on detective Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke, with the overarching narrative focusing on their developing relationship amidst crime-solving. Initially, Roberts' identity as J. D. Robb was not publicly acknowledged by her or her publisher, aiming to allow the series to establish its own readership.

Nora Roberts' career is marked by extraordinary commercial success. She surpassed the hundred-novel milestone in 1996 and has consistently dominated bestseller lists. Since 1999, every novel released under her name has appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list, with many debuting at the number-one spot. Her books have been translated into 35 languages and have sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. Roberts is a founding member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and was the first inductee into its Hall of Fame. She has received the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, which was later renamed in her honor, and has won a record 21 RITA Awards, the genre's highest accolade. Several of her novels have also been adapted into television movies.

“I got the standard rejection for the first couple of tries, then my favorite rejection of all time. I received my manuscript back with a nice little note which said that my work showed promise, and the story had been very entertaining and well done. But that they already had their American writer. That would have been Janet Dailey.”

“You're going to be unemployed if you really think you just have to sit around and wait for the muse to land on your shoulder.”

“I remember exactly what it felt like to want to read and not have time to read 200,000 words.”