Linda Howard, born Linda S. Howington in Alabama on August 3, 1950, is an American author celebrated for her best-selling romance and suspense novels, published under her pseudonym. She began writing at a young age, dedicating two decades to her craft for personal enjoyment before pursuing publication in 1980. Her debut novel, "All That Glitters," was released by Silhouette in 1982. Howard was an early member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), joining shortly after its formation in 1981 and serving as a director. Her husband, Gary F. Howington, was a professional bass fisherman, and she often traveled with him, working on her writing. They resided on a farm in Alabama, raising cattle and keeping dogs. Tragically, her husband passed away on January 3, 2025.

In 2017, Howard's involvement with the RWA became controversial when she expressed criticism regarding the organization's efforts to increase inclusivity for non-white authors, stating on an internal forum that "Diversity for the sake of diversity is discrimination." This remark led to significant backlash and her subsequent resignation from the RWA. Throughout her career, Howard has authored numerous novels, often organized into distinct series, and has also participated in various collaborative collections and omnibus editions with other authors in the romance genre. She received the Romance Writers of America Career Achievement Award in 2005.

Linda Howard's writing journey began in childhood, with a significant period of private dedication before she sought professional publication. Her career officially launched in 1982 with "All That Glitters." Over the years, she has built a substantial body of work, primarily in the romance and suspense genres. Her novels are often characterized by strong romantic elements intertwined with thrilling plots, appealing to a wide readership. She has authored numerous standalone novels and contributed to several popular series, including the "Spencer-Nyle Co. series," "Rescues (Kell Sabin) series," "MacKenzie Family Saga series," "A Lady Of The West series," "Patterson-Cannon Family series," "CIA's Spies (John Medina) series," and "GO-Team series." Her prolific output also includes various collections and collaborations with other prominent authors in the field.

Howard was an early supporter of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), joining the organization in 1981, soon after its inception. She held a leadership position as Region 3 Director until October 31, 2008. However, her long-standing relationship with the RWA faced a significant challenge in 2017. At that time, she publicly voiced opposition to the RWA's initiatives aimed at greater diversity, particularly concerning non-white authors. Her statement, made within an internal forum, asserted that "Diversity for the sake of diversity is discrimination." This controversial stance generated considerable discussion and ultimately led to Howard's decision to resign from the organization.

“Diversity for the sake of diversity is discrimination”