Anton, Shari

PERSONAL:

Married; children: two.

ADDRESSES:

Home—WI. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer. Formerly held various jobs, including personnel clerk and executive secretary.

MEMBER:

Romance Writers of America, Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (WisRWA), Hearts through History Romance Writers, Novelists Inc., Authors Guild.

WRITINGS:

Emily's Captain, Harlequin Historicals (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 1997.

The Conqueror, Harlequin Historicals (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2000.

Midnight Magic (first book in "The Magic Trilogy"), Warner Forever (New York, NY), 2005.

At Her Service, Warner Forever (New York, NY), 2005.

Twilight Magic (second book in "The Magic Trilogy"), Warner Forever (New York, NY), 2006.

"THE WILMONT STORIES" SERIES

By King's Decree, Harlequin Historicals (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 1998.

Lord of the Manor, Harlequin Historicals (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 1998.

Queen's Grace, Harlequin Historicals (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 1999.

Knave of Hearts, Harlequin Historicals (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2001.

"THE HAMELIN STORIES" SERIES

The Ideal Husband, Warner Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Once a Bride, Warner Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Contributor to anthologies, including Christmas at Wayfarer Inn, Harlequin Historical Christmas Anthology, 2001. Also author of Web blog.

SIDELIGHTS:

Shari Anton writes historical romance novels. Her first book, Emily's Captain, takes place during the Civil War and features Union spy Jared Hunter sent to rescue his commanding officer's daughter, Emily, and bring her north from Georgia. However, Emily sympathizes with the Southern cause, and Jared soon finds himself posing as a Confederate officer to get Emily to accompany him as they travel through dangerous lands. "Shari Anton's portrait of the Civil War conveys the tragedy and the horror" of the period, wrote Kathe Robin on the Romantic Times Online.

Anton is also author of "The Wilmont Stories," a series of medieval romance novels that begins with By King's Decree, which tells the love story of Baron Gerard of Wilmont and Ardith of Lenvil, who is resigned to a solitary life because she is barren. Romantic Times Web site contributor Maria C. Ferrer called the novel "a delicious romance full of treachery, greed, revenge and heated passion." In the fourth entry in the series, Knave of Hearts, Stephan of Wilmont, a knight, finds himself caught between two cousins, one an old love he abandoned and the other looking for a younger husband after two older ones have died. Gabrielle Panter wrote on the Romantic Times Online that Knave of Hearts is "an entertaining tale of romance with love lost, found, and rekindled."

Anton begins "The Hamelin Stories" series with The Ideal Husband. The novel features the disgraced Leah of Pechem, who finds herself stranded in France. On a voyage home to England, the ship goes down, and Leah begins caring for Geoffrey Hamelin, a gentleman who washed up on shore. She pretends that the unconscious Geoffrey is her husband and then, as Geoffrey has lost his memory, maintains the ruse after they are rescued. Kathe Robin, writing on the Romantic Times Online, noted that the author "weaves history into her highly romantic tale with aplomb, crafting a beautiful love story." Once a Bride, the second book in "The Hamelin Stories" series, features Eloise, daughter of the disgraced Lord Hamelin. Eloise is forced to relent to Roland St. Marten, who has come to oversee the estate on behalf of its new owner, Lord Kenworth. To her surprise, Eloise and Roland begin to fall in love but can only make their love acceptable if they can prove Lord Hamelin's innocence. Robin, once again writing on the Romantic Times Online, commented that the author "weaves a spellbinding romance, rich in historical backdrop, fiery characters and sexual tension."

Midnight Magic is the first book in "The Magic Trilogy," which revolves around three sisters. The story begins in 1145 with the marriage of Gwendolyn to Alberic, who has been granted an estate and his choice of one of three sisters as a reward for slaying William de Leon on behalf of King Stephen. Gwendolyn's other two sisters are sent off to a nunnery after not being chosen, and Gwendolyn enters a marriage where she is surprised to find herself falling in love. "This is a well-written historical romance, filled with legends of the days of Merlin and King Arthur," wrote Marie Hashima Lofton on the BookLoons Web site. "It has a quality of the ethereal." The next book in the series, Twilight Magic, features Gwendolyn's sister Emma, who has the gift of seeing the future in a pool of water. When she meets the man she loves, the Flemish mercenary Darian of Bruges, Emma must prove him innocent of murdering an English nobleman. Writing in Booklist, John Charles called Twilight Magic an "expertly crafted, utterly beguiling medieval romance." A Publishers Weekly contributor noted the romance novel's "appealing characters and playful repartee."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, January 1, 2005, John Charles, review of At Her Service, p. 829; December 1, 2005, John Charles, review of Midnight Magic, p. 29; November 15, 2006, John Charles, review of Twilight Magic, p. 36.

MBR Bookwatch, January, 2005, Harriet Klausner, review of At Her Service.

Publishers Weekly, October 30, 2006, review of Twilight Magic, p. 43.

Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 2002, review of The Conqueror, p. 89.

ONLINE

BookLoons,http://www.bookloons.com/ (October 14, 2007), Marie Hashima Lofton, review of Midnight Magic.

Hachette Book Group,http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/ (October 14, 2007), brief profile of author.

My Space,http://www.myspace.com/sharianton (October 14, 2007).

Romantic Times Online,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (October 14, 2007), Kathe Robin, reviews of At Her Service, Emily's Captain, Midnight Magic, Once a Bride, The Conqueror, The Ideal Husband, and By Queen's Grace; Maria C. Ferrer, review of By King's Decree; Gabrielle Pantera, review of Knave of Hearts; Michell Phifer, review of Lord of the Manor.

Shari Anton Home Page,http://www.sharianton.com (October 14, 2007).

Shari Anton's Blog,http://www.blogger.com/profile/04624755109245094179 (October 14, 2007).