BITTNER, Rosanne 1945-

PERSONAL: Born January 14, 1945, in LaPorte, IN; daughter of Frank L. Reris and Ethel (Ardella) Reris Traxler; married Larry D. Bittner (a farmer and small business owner), October 2, 1965; children: Brock, Brian. Religion: Catholic.

ADDRESSES: Home—P.O. Box 1044, Coloma, MI49038.

CAREER: Novelist. Worked as a managerial secretary 1964-84; full-time writer, 1984—.

MEMBER: Romance Writers of America, Council on America's Military Past, Western Outlaw-Lawman History Association, Oregon-California Trails Association, Nebraska State Historical Society, Montana Historical Society, Berrien Co. (Michigan) Historical Society, Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America, Women Writing the West, Western Writers of America, Coloma Lioness Club.

AWARDS, HONORS: Silver Pen award, Affaire de Coeur, 1987 and 1989; Golden Certificates for best American historical romance, Affaire de Coeur, 1989, for Tennessee Bride and Heart's Surrender, and 1990, for This Time Forever; Romantic Times awards for best western series, 1985, for "Savage Destiny", for best Indian romance, 1985, for River of Love, for best fictionalized biography, 1990, for This Time Forever, for best post-Civil War romance, 1991, for Embers of the Heart, and nomination for best North American historical novel, 1994, for Tender Betrayal; Golden Pen Award for favorite historical author, Affaire de Coeur, 1992; Third Place Readers' Choice Award, Oklahoma chapter of Romance Writers of America, RITA Award finalist from Romance Writers of America, and nomination for award for best Indian romance from Romantic Times, all 1993, all for Song of the Wolf.

WRITINGS:

novels

Arizona Bride, Zebra (New York, NY), 1985.

Lawless Love, Zebra (New York, NY), 1985.

Rapture's Gold, Zebra (New York, NY), 1986.

Prairie Embrace, Zebra (New York, NY), 1987.

Savage Horizons, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1987.

Frontier Fires, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1987.

Destiny's Dawn, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1987.

Tennessee Bride, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1988.

Texas Bride, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1988.

Heart's Surrender, Zebra (New York, NY), 1988.

Ecstasy's Chains, Zebra (New York, NY), 1989.

Arizona Ecstasy, Zebra (New York, NY), 1989.

This Time Forever, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1989.

Oregon Bride, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1990.

Sweet Mountain Magic, Zebra (New York, NY), 1990.

Sioux Splendor, Zebra (New York, NY), 1990.

Montana Woman, Bantam (New York, NY), 1990.

Embers of the Heart, Bantam (New York, NY), 1990.

In the Shadow of the Mountains, Bantam (New York, NY), 1991.

Comanche Sunset, Zebra (New York, NY), 1991.

Caress, Zebra (New York, NY), 1992.

Song of the Wolf, Bantam (New York, NY), 1992.

Thunder on the Plains, Doubleday, 1992.

Outlaw Hearts, Bantam (New York, NY), 1993.

Tender Betrayal, Bantam (New York, NY), 1993.

Shameless, Zebra (New York, NY), 1993.

Unforgettable, Zebra (New York, NY), 1994.

Full Circle, Zebra (New York, NY), 1994.

Wildest Dreams, Bantam (New York, NY), 1994.

Mystic Dreamers, Forge (New York, NY), 1999.

Mystic Visions, Forge (New York, NY), 2000.

Mystic Warriors, Forge (New York, NY), 2001.

Into the Wilderness: The Long Hunters, Forge (New York, NY), 2002.

Into the Valley: The Settlers, Forge (New York, NY), 2003). Where Heaven Begins, Steeple Hill Books (New York, NY), 2004.

"savage destiny" series; historical romances

Sweet Prairie Passion, Zebra (New York, NY), 1983.

Ride the Free Wind, Zebra (New York, NY), 1984.

River of Love, Zebra (New York, NY), 1984.

Embrace the Wild Land, Zebra (New York, NY), 1984.

Climb the Highest Mountain, Zebra (New York, NY), 1985.

Meet the New Dawn, Zebra (New York, NY), 1986.

Eagle's Song, Zebra (New York, NY), 1996.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Into the Prairie, for Forge (New York, NY), 2004; Where Heaven Begins, an inspirational historical romance, scheduled for 2004.

SIDELIGHTS: Rosanne Bittner is a prolific writer of novels set in the American Old West, many featuring Native American protagonists. Reviewers have consistently commended her for her thorough knowledge of Indian life in the American territories of the early-to mid-nineteenth century, a Publishers Weekly contributor noting of the 1995 novel Chase the Sun that Bittner's "understanding of Indian culture and her sympathy with their struggle for survival … is evident throughout." Among the author's many works are Outlaw Hearts, about a young widow's relationship with a man wanted by the law; Mystic Dreamers, which finds an Oglala warrior seeking the hand of a brave young woman from another tribe; Thunder on the Plains, a love story set against the building of the Union Pacific Railroad; and Song of the Wolf, which chronicles the life of a Cheyenne woman and the history of her people. Praising Mystic Dreamers as "another winning romance" by Bittner, Harriet Klausner praised the author's protagonist as "warm and charming" in a BookBrowser review, while in Booklist Patty Englemann described the book as a "compelling love story" "filled with suspense and high emotion," and maintained that Mystic Dreamers "is sure to please Bittner's fans" and gain the author new ones.

Among Bittner's historical novels are several novel series, including the "Into the Wilderness" books. Taking place in mid-eighteenth-century America, the first novel in the series, Into the Wilderness: The Long Hunters, finds sixteen-year-old Jessica Matthews learning to cope with life and the fear of Indian raids at her family's home in Pennsylvania's Allegheny mountains. Drawn into the French and Indian War through her romance with a handsome hunter, Jessica ultimately learns that battles have two sides after she is captured by a native tribe. While a Kirkus reviewer found The Long Hunters "predictable and dull," the contributor nonetheless praised Bittner's detailed research and inclusion of several historical figures that bring the epoch alive for readers. More enthusiastic, Patty Englemann praised the work in Booklist, writing that Bittner's "gripping love story … brings the bravado and daring of the early American settlers to life."

Bittner once told CA: "I always loved to write, but I was afraid to try. Once I did try, I fell in love with writing, and I wrote night and day, seven days each week. I have always loved the subject of America's Old West, and that is all I write about. I think my love for the subject shows through in my writing."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Booklist, March 15, 1999, Patty Englemann, review of Mystic Dreamers, p. 1293; March 1, 2002, Patty Englemann, review of Into the Wilderness: The Long Hunters, p. 1097.

Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2002, review of Into the Wilderness, p. 118.

Publishers Weekly, February 3, 1992, p. 74; February 15, 1993; May 30, 1994, review of Wildest Dream, p. 49; August 28, 1995, review of Chase the Sun, p. 111; September 9, 1996, review of Tame the Wild Wind, p. 81; March 17, 1997, review of Texas Embrace, p. 81.

online

BookBrowser,http://www.bookbrouser.com/ (July 31, 2000), Harriet Klausner, review of Mystic Dreamers.

Romantic Times Web site,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (September 4, 2003).

Rosanne Bittner: Heart of the West,http://www.rosannebittner.com/ (September 5, 2003).

Under the Covers, http://www.silcom.com/˜manatee/ (December 31, 1998), Kathee S. Card, review of Texas Passion.