Stewart, Mariah

PERSONAL:

Born in Hightstown, NJ; married; children: two daughters.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Chester County, PA. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer.

MEMBER:

Novelists Inc., Thriller Writers International, Sisters in Crime, Published Authors Special Interests Chapter (PASIC), the Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, Valley Forge Romance Writers, and Washington Romance Writers.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Reviewers' International Award; Reviewers' Choice Award, Romantic Times Online, for Moon Dance; Gold Leaf Award (three) and Lifetime Achievement Award, New Jersey Romance Writers; RIO Award, Reviewers International Organization, for excellence in women's fiction.

WRITINGS:

ROMANCE NOVELS

Six Weeks, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1986.

A Different Light, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Moments in Time, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Carolina Mist, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Priceless, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Brown-Eyed Girl, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Voices Carry, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 2001.

The President's Daughter, Ivy (New York, NY), 2002.

Until Dark (sequel to The President's Daughter), Ivy (New York, NY), 2003.

"ENRIGHT" TRILOGY

Devlin's Light, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Wonderful You, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Moondance, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1999.

"DEAD" SERIES

Dead Wrong, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2004.

Dead Certain, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2004.

Dead Even, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2004.

Dead End, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2005.

"TRUTH" SERIES

Cold Truth, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2005.

Dark Truth, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2005.

Hard Truth, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2005.

Final Truth, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2006.

Contributor to anthologies, including Upon a Midnight Clear, 1997, 1998; Under the Boardwalk, 1999; and Wait until Dark, 2001.

SIDELIGHTS:

Mariah Stewart began as a romance writer and then turned to writing romance-suspense novels. In A Different Light, one of her early straight romance titles, Athena Moran, the widow of a police officer, finally decides to get on with her life after dealing with depression following her husband's death. When she takes a job in the mayor's office, she is persuaded to run for mayor herself because the current mayor's term limit is up. She soon learns, however, that she is only to be used as a puppet. When reporter Quentin Forbes starts criticizing her in the paper, Athena finally decides to make a stand, with the help of Quentin and Ms. Evelyn, a town activist. In a review of A Different Light for Romantic Times Online, Jill M. Smith noted that the author "brings her special touch to this character drama of compelling individuals fighting for their dreams."

An example of Stewart's subsequent romance-suspense novels is The President's Daughter. The story revolves around down-on-his-luck journalist Simon Keller. Simon receives an offer from his former publisher to write a biography of the late President of the United States, Graham Hayard, in order to help Hayward's son get elected. However, Simon uncovers that the much honored and seemingly scandal-free Hayward had a mistress, Blythe Pierce, who died in a questionable hit-and-run accident. Eventually, Simon meets Dina McDermott, who turns out to be the daughter of Blythe's best friend, but who looks exactly like Blythe. Simon discovers that Blythe was actually murdered and he is soon trying to protect Dina from a similar fate. Alexandra Shrake, writing in Booklist, noted that the "fast-paced thriller is sure to please romance and mystery readers alike."

Stewart is also author of the "Enright Trilogy." In the second book of trilogy, Wonderful You, Stewart writes of young Zoey Enright, daughter of successful author Delia Enright. When Zoey gets a job with the HomeMarketPlace TV network, she finds herself being matched up with the owner's grandson, Ben Pierce, an injured race car driver. "You can't help but be caught up in all the sorrows, joys and passion of this unforgettable family," wrote Jill M. Smith for Romantic Times Online.

In her "Dead" series of thriller novels, the author focuses on murder mysteries. Dead Wrong features Mara Douglas, who becomes uneasy when two women with her name are murdered. Family friend and retired FBI agent Aidan Shields promises to help protect Mara but soon more M. Douglas's from the phone book are turning up dead. "Nail-biting suspense and emotional complexity make this launch irresistible," wrote Smith. Another book in the series, Dead End, tells the story of detective Evan Crosby and his efforts to find the killer of schoolgirls from wealthy families. The case takes a twist, however, when young, unidentified Hispanic women turn up murdered in the same way. Sue O'Brien, writing in Booklist, noted that the author successfully imparts "details of police investigation and profiling techniques."

Stewart's "Truth" series of romance-suspense novels also feature murder mysteries, but ones that involve a serial killer. In the series debut, Cold Truth, a serial killer faces off against two women, Regan Landry, the daughter of a murdered true-crime writer, and police detective Cassandra Reilly, whose family was slaughtered many years ago. A Publishers Weekly contributor noted that "the book's professional-turned-personal relationships [are] at least as intriguing and enjoyable as its subtle suspense." The fourth book in the series, Final Truth, once again features Regan Landry, who this time joins forces with FBI agent Mitch Peyton to find out whether a man recently released from death row because of false testimony at his trial is the perpetrator of a new series of killings. O'Brien, writing again in Booklist, commented that the "fast-paced story holds readers with investigative detail."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August, 2002, Alexandra Shrake, review of The President's Daughter, p. 1935; September 1, 2005, Sue O'Brien, review of Dead End, p. 71; May 1, 2006, Sue O'Brien, review of Final Truth, p. 22.

Library Journal, August, 2002, Kristin Ramsdell, review of The President's Daughter, p. 72; May 15, 2004, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Dead Wrong, p. 72.

Publishers Weekly, January 29, 2001, review of Voices Carry, p. 71; July 15, 2002, review of The President's Daughter, pp. 60-61; August 15, 2005, review of Cold Truth, p. 40.

ONLINE

Best Reviews,http://thebestreviews.com/ (July 30, 2002), Kathy Boswell, review of The President's Daughter.

Crescent Blues,http://www.crescentblues.com/ (September 21, 2004), Patricia White, review of Brown-Eyed Girl, and Heather Firth, review of Voices Carry.

Mariah Stewart Home Pages,http://www.geocities.com/MariahStewart; http://www.mariahstewart.com/ (April 1, 2007).

Paperback Digital,http://www.paperbackdigital.com/ (April 1, 2007), brief profile of author.

Romance Reader,http://www.theromancereader.com/ (May 21, 1998), Susan Scribner, review of Wonderful You; (December 17, 1998), Susan Scribner, review of Moon Dance; (July 12, 1999), Judith Flavell, review of Priceless; (April 14, 2000), Susan Scribner, review of Brown-Eyed Girl; (February 19, 2001), Jean Mason, review of Voices Carry.

Romance Reader's Connection,http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/ (September 21, 2004), Livia Holton, review of The President's Daughter.

Romantic Times Online,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (April 1, 2007), Jill M. Smith, reviews of Wonderful You, Voices Carry, Until Dark, The President's Daughter, Priceless, Moondance, Moments in Time, Hard Truth, Final Truth, Dead Wrong, Dead Even, Dead End, Dead Certain, Dark Truth, Cold Truth, Carolina Mist, Brown-Eyed Girl, and A Different Light.