St. George, LaVerne 1954-

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St. GEORGE, LaVerne 1954-

PERSONAL: Born April 30, 1954, in New Castle, PA; daughter of C. Paul and Regina (Wajert) Zaremba. Education: University of Delaware, B.A., 1975; University of Maryland, M.L.S., 1977; University of Kansas, M.A., 1985. Religion: "Unitarian Episcopal." Hobbies and other interests: Needlework, jigsaw puzzles, reading "a well-written book with a happy ending."

ADDRESSES: Offıce—Open Book Communications, P.O. Box 478, Lake Orion, MI 48361. E-mail— [email protected].

CAREER: Tetra Tech Services, Inc., White Oak, MD, computer document specialist, 1980-81; University of Kansas, Lawrence, reference librarian, 1982-84; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, reference librarian at Taubman Medical Library, 1985-86; Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Library, Ann Arbor, cancer literature specialist, 1986-98; Open Book Communications, Lake Orion, MI, information specialist, 1995—.

MEMBER: Romance Writers of America, Association of Independent Information Professionals.

AWARDS, HONORS: Robin Award for best romance written for new readers, Laubach Literacy International and Romance Writers of America, 1997, for Carousel Magic.

WRITINGS:

A Private Proposal (romance novel), Avalon Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Carousel Magic (romance novel), Signal Hill Publications (Syracuse, NY), 1997.

The Master's Plan (romance novel), AmErica House (Baltimore, MD), 2000.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Self-Centered Eldercare: The Challenges and Opportunities of Caring at a Distance, for AmErica House (Baltimore, MD); Speak to Me, a contemporary paranormal romance novel; Coins, Coins, Coins: The Meaning of the Art and Symbols on U.S. Coins, with Linda Pedder.

SIDELIGHTS: LaVerne St. George told CA: "Ever since creating stories illustrated with crayon drawings in grade school, I set my sights on publishing a novel. I started with books of space travel and, with a friend, wrote a novel based on the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. We sent it to a publisher and got our first rejection letter (which I still have). In college, one of my aunts introduced me to Kathleen Woodiwiss and The Flame and the Flower. I was hooked on romance and settled into my lifelong focus.

"Before my first publishing success, my career choice was laboratory research in cancer biology. In Delaware I worked in a research lab and realized that I was headed in the wrong direction. Although I loved the science, I realized that I was not focused enough for a research career. For a 'people person,' laboratory research can be very solitary. I entered a library science program at the University of Maryland and focused my studies on scientific information and special libraries.

"I have worked in a variety of settings, from information contracting firms around the Beltway in the District of Columbia to university libraries to the Navy, earning a second master's degree along the way. In the end, I landed a job at Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I supported the cancer drug development program, and I worked there for eleven years.

"I now live in Michigan with my husband and own Open Book Communications, a micro-business created in 1993. I started the business to downshift, leave the constant pressure of the business world, and take more control of my time. I maintain a moderate client list and provide information research services to writers and local businesses while concentrating on my writing."