Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born Eleanor Marie Robertson in 1950, is a highly prolific American author celebrated for her extensive body of romance novels, published under her own name. Beyond romance, she also crafts police procedurals with science fiction elements, writing these under the pseudonym J. D. Robb. Her literary career began in 1979 after a blizzard provided the impetus to write, leading to her first published novel in 1981. Roberts has also used the pseudonyms Jill March and Sarah Hardesty. Her writing process is disciplined, involving focused daily writing sessions and a methodical approach to drafting and revision. She is recognized for her significant commercial success, with numerous books appearing on bestseller lists and millions of copies sold worldwide.

Born October 10, 1950, in Silver Spring, Maryland, Nora Roberts was the youngest of five children in a family that deeply valued reading. She has described her Irish heritage as central to her identity. While she imagined stories from a young age, her formal writing in her youth was limited to school essays. Roberts credits the discipline instilled by her Catholic school education with shaping her approach to her craft. Her early adult life involved marriage shortly after high school graduation, raising two sons, and engaging in various crafts, reflecting a period she termed her "Earth Mother" years before her divorce in 1983.

Roberts began her writing career in earnest during a February 1979 blizzard, finding herself with ample time and inspiration. Despite initial rejections from major romance publishers, she persevered. Her first novel, 'Irish Thoroughbred,' was published in 1981 under the pseudonym Nora Roberts. She developed a rigorous writing schedule, dedicating eight hours daily to her work, emphasizing consistency over waiting for inspiration. Her method involves envisioning a core element—an incident, character, or setting—then drafting, followed by detailed revisions to add depth and characterization. She often writes trilogies consecutively to maintain continuity with characters, and due to an aversion to flying, relies heavily on internet research.

Under the name Nora Roberts, she primarily writes contemporary romance, though she also occasionally produces shorter category romances, reflecting her understanding of readers with limited time. To explore other genres, Roberts adopted the pseudonym J. D. Robb. This venture began with romantic suspense, evolving into a highly successful series of futuristic science fiction police procedurals known as the 'in Death' series. These novels, featuring detective Eve Dallas, blend crime-solving with the development of a central relationship. She has also published under the names Jill March and Sarah Hardesty, particularly for specific markets or series releases.

Nora Roberts' career is marked by significant commercial and critical acclaim. She has surpassed the milestone of over 225 novels published. Her work frequently appears on prestigious bestseller lists, including The New York Times, with nearly every novel since 1999 debuting on the list and many reaching the number-one spot. She is a founding member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and was the first inductee into its Hall of Fame, later receiving the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, which was eventually renamed in her honor. Roberts has also won numerous RITA Awards, the genre's highest honor.

“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.”