STUART, Anne 1948-

(Anne Kristine Stuart)

PERSONAL: Born 1948 in Philadelphia, PA; married; children: one son, one daughter. Hobbies and other interests: Movies, rock and roll, quilting.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Harlequin, P.O. Box 5190, Buffalo, NY 14240-5190. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Writer and public speaker.

MEMBER: Romance Writers of America.

AWARDS, HONORS: Romance Writers of America Bronze Medallion for Best Long Contemporary Romance, 1984, for Tangled Lies; Romance Writers of America Gold Medallion for Best Single Title Release, 1985, for Banish Misfortune; Romantic Times Career Achievement in Romantic Intrigue Award, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Intrigue, both 1985, and Colorado Romance Writers Keeper Award, 1994, all for Catspaw; Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Special Achievement in Romantic Suspense, 1987, for Seen and Not Heard; Colorado Romance Writers Award for Best Long Contemporary, 1992, for Night of the Phantom; Romantic Times Career Achievement in Romantic Adventure Award, 1992; Romantic Times Career Achievement in Series Romance Award and Paperback Trader Romance Reader's Choice Award for Best Series Romance, both 1993, both for Night of the Phantom; BookRack Bestselling Series Romance recognition, 1994, for Cinderman; Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Harlequin American, 1994, for One More Valentine; RITA Award for Best Fantasy, Futuristic, Paranormal, Romance Writers of America, 1994, for Falling Angel; Romantic Times KISS Award, 1996, for To Love a Dark Lord; Best Mainstream Romantic Suspense Award, 1996, for Nightfall; RITA Award for Best Romantic Suspense, 1996, for Winter's Edge; Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, 1996; KISS Award, 1997, for Lord of Danger; Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in Romantic Suspense, and KISS Award, both 1998, both for Prince of Magic.

WRITINGS:

"MAGGIE BENNET" NOVEL SERIES

At the Edge of the Sun, Bantam (New York, NY), 1987.

Darkness before the Dawn, Bantam (New York, NY), 1987.

Escape out of Darkness, Bantam (New York, NY), 1987.

ROMANCE NOVELS

Barrett's Hill, Beagle Books (New York, NY), 1974.

Cameron's Landing, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1977.

Demonwood, Dell Candlelight Intrigue (New York, NY), 1979.

The Demon Count, Dell Candlelight Intrigue (New York, NY), 1980.

The Demon Count's Daughter, Dell Candlelight Intrigue (New York, NY), 1980.

Lord Satan's Bride, Dell Candlelight Intrigue (New York, NY), 1981.

The Spinster and the Rake, Dell Candlelight Intrigue (New York, NY), 1982.

Chain of Love, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1983, published as Summer Lovers (bound with First, Best, and Only, by Barbara Delinsky and Granite Man, by Elizabeth Lowell), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Heart's Ease, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1983.

The Museum Piece, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1984.

Catspaw, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1984, published as Thieves, Spies, and Other Lovers (bound with Code Name Casanova and In from the Cold), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Tangled Lies, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1984.

Crazy like a Fox, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1984.

The Houseparty, Ballantine Books (New York, NY), 1985.

Banish Misfortune, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1985.

Rocky Road, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1985.

Housebound, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1985.

Against the Wind, Dell Publishing (New York, NY), 1985.

Bewitching Hour, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1986, published as Dreamscape (bound with Ghost of a Chance, by Jayne Ann Krentz and Remember Me, by Bobby Hutchinson), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Hand in Glove, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1987.

Blue Sage, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1987.

Seen and Not Heard, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Partners in Crime, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Cry for the Moon, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Catspaw II, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Glass Houses, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Special Gifts, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Angels Wings, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Rancho Diablo, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Lazarus Rising, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Night of the Phantom, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Chasing Trouble, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Heat Lightning, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Now You See Him, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1992, published as Undercover Summer (bound with Vagabond Hearts, by Bobby Hutchinson), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Rafe's Revenge, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1992.

My Valentine, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1992.

One More Valentine, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1993.

A Rose at Midnight, Avon Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Falling Angel, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1993, published as Dangerous Desires (bound with Too Wild to Wed, by Jayne Ann Krentz and Montana Man, by Barbara Delinsky), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Highland Fling, Berkley Publishing Group (New York, NY), 1993.

Shadow Dance, Avon Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Cinderman, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1994.

To Love a Dark Lord, Avon Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Nightfall, New American Library (New York, NY), 1995.

The Soldier and the Baby, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996, published as Hot Pursuit (bound with A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, by Joan Johnston and Love Slave, by Mallory Rush), Silhouette Books (New York, NY) 1999.

Winter's Edge, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1996, published as A Stranger's Kiss (bound with Safe by His Side, by Debra Webb), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Moonrise, Signet (New York, NY), 1996.

Break the Night, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Prince of Swords, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1996, Five Star (Unity, ME), 1997.

Lord of Danger, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Ritual Sins, New American Library (New York, NY), 1997.

A Dark and Stormy Night, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Prince of Magic, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Valentine Affairs, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1999.

The Right Man, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Shadow Lover, Penguin Putnam (New York, NY), 1999.

Shadows at Sunset, Mira Books (Dons Mills, Ontario, Canada), 1999.

Lady Fortune, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Wild Thing, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Kissing Frosty, Santa in a Stetson, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 2000, published as New Year's Resolution: Husband (bound with Husband for Hire and The Ice Dancers), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1995.

The Widow, Mira Books (Dons Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2001.

Still Lake, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gayle Wilson) Night and Day, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2002.

The Road to Hidden Harbor, Thorndike Press (Detroit, MI), 2003, published as What Lies Beneath (bound with Remember Me, by Joanna Wayne and Primal Fear, by Caroline Burnes), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Into the Fire, Mira Books (Dons Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2003.

Hidden Honor, Mira Books (Dons Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2004.

Black Ice, Mira Books (Dons Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2005.

OTHER

Strangers in the Night (contains Dark Journey; bound with Catching Dreams, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Beyond Twilight, by Maggie Shayne), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Lovers Dark and Dangerous (bound with Monster in the Closet, Seawitch, by Heather Graham Pozzessere, and Wide Imaginings, by Helen R. Myers), Silhouette Books (New York, NY) 1996.

Summer Love (bound with Sultry, Straight from the Heart, by Janelle Taylor, Summer Fantasy, by Jill Marie Landis, and Early in the Morning, by Stella Cameron), Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Now or Never (short stories), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Looking for Trouble (short stories), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Burning Bright (bound with Star Light, Star Bright, Return of the Light, by Maggie Shayne, and One for Each Night, by Judith Arnold), Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Contributor to anthologies, including To Love and to Honor, Avon Books (New York, NY), 1993; One Night with a Rogue, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1995; New Year's Resolution: Baby, Harlequin Books (New York, NY), 1996; The Cupid Connection, Harlequin Books, 1998; Sisters and Secrets, Onyx Books (New York, NY), 1998; My Secret Admirer, Harlequin Books, 1999; Valentine Babies, Harlequin Books, 2000; and Date with a Devil, Harlequin Books, 2004.

SIDELIGHTS: A veteran of more than thirty years as a writer of romance and romantic suspense, prolific author Anne Stuart has many dozens of published works to her credit. She is the recipient of more than twenty awards, including lifetime achievement awards from Romantic Times and the Romance Writers of America (RWA). An advocate for the rights and opportunities of her writing colleagues, Stuart has also served as RWA's published author liaison, in which she looked after the interests of the group's published writers and worked to strengthen the romance genre as a whole. For Stuart, the key to her longevity in the romance market is to "love lots of things," she said in an interview with Jean Marie Ward for CrescentBlues.com, which means cultivating an interest in a variety of genres and subgenres such as Gothic, time-travel, and Regency romance. "I'm very adaptable," she remarked. "I can't write what someone tells me to write, but I can find something on my own that fills my needs and fits a publisher's."

A difficult childhood led Stuart to embrace the written word as a lifeline in her tumultuous world. "I had a thoroughly nasty childhood, which I survived by reading constantly, watching TV and daydreaming," she commented in an interview on the All about Romance Web site. "Fantasy kept me sane through some very difficult times," she continued, and "books were my lifeline." However, "in order to survive that childhood, I took refuge in fantasy—in reading, and in telling myself stories," Stuart remarked. "And not for a moment would I trade it in for a peaceful, serene life."

Among Stuart's many novels is Into the Fire. Still grieving a year after the murder of her beloved cousin Nate, Jamie Kincaid seeks answers to his death. She travels to Cooperstown, Wisconsin, to gather up Nate's few belongings and to try coaxing some answers out of his childhood friend, Dillon "Killer" Gaynor, an unsavory sort who has always carried the taint, and allure, of the "bad boy." Nate was found dead in best friend Gaynor's automotive repair garage, and Jamie has suspicions that Gaynor may be more deeply involved than it looks. If nothing else, he bears some responsibility for introducing Nate to the wild-parties-and-drugs lifestyle that contributed to his death. Car trouble that might have resulted from sabotage forces Jamie to stay in Cooperstown longer than intended, and she temporarily stays with Gaynor. Though he is unremittingly unpleasant to her, the childhood attraction they shared years ago soon becomes a genuine romance. But mysteries still lurk in the shadows, and one of them may be Nate's ghost, returned for reasons no one can guess. The book is an "entertaining romantic suspense with a hint of supernatural happenings," remarked Harriet Klausner on the AllReaders.com Web site, while Kristin Ramsdell, writing in Library Journal, called Into the Fire a "sexy, edgy, exceptionally well-plotted tale."

Medieval maiden Elizabeth of Bredon prepares to give herself over to the cloistered life of a nun in Hidden Honor because the brutal whims of men have proven too much for her. On the way, however, she meets a man claiming to be the notorious Prince William, illegitimate son of King John. The man is kindly and helpful, not at all the vile, ruthless character Prince William is portrayed to be. Eventually Elizabeth discovers that he is not the prince at all, but Sir Adrian, a friar who has temporarily taken William's place in order to protect the real prince, who travels disguised as a friar in order to thwart assassination attempts. Both Elizabeth's and Adrian's convictions are tested as the glimmers of romance appear. "Stuart writes a powerful tale that captures the essence of the era," commented Kathe Robin on the Romantic Times Web site. Hidden Honor "spins a sensual tale of vengeance and retribution," noted reviewer Ramsdell in Library Journal.

In a story set in the present day, harried New York advice columnist Sophie Davis moves to secluded Colby, Vermont, to run a small inn. Here she believes she has found the environment in which to soothe her worries and give her the peace she needs. She can also care for her mother and moody half-sister while earning a living as an innkeeper. However, as the story in Still Lake gets underway, echoes from twenty-year-old murders, and the irritating presence of new neighbor John Smith, distracts Sophie from her personal mission. While undeterred by the fact that her inn was the site of one of the murders, Sophie is angered when Smith disrupts her solitude by into a nearby, long-unused cabin. Smith, however, has his own compelling reasons for being there. He is actually Thomas Griffin, an ex-convict who was imprisoned for the murders that occurred in Colby two decades earlier. Released from jail on a technicality after five years, he has come back to the scene of the crime to find out what really happened years ago, when he woke up covered in blood, accused of murder, and completely unaware of what happened to put him in such a dreadful situation. Though initially resistant, Sophie and Griffin begin to fall for each other, until their budding romance is jolted by a new murder strangely similar to the ones involving Griffin years earlier. Klausner, in a AllReaders.com review, declared the book a "fine contemporary tale" and an "exciting romantic suspense novel," with Griffin as a "wonderfully bewildered protagonist." "Stuart is a master of suspenseful storytelling," commented Debbie Richardson on the Romantic Times Web site.

Black Ice concerns children's book translator Chloe Underwood, who takes on a freelance translating job in hopes of generating some additional capital and spicing up her mundane life. The job, working for a group of international businessmen headquartered in a country estate, seems straightforward and profitable. However, Chloe soon finds herself in the position of knowing too much about a number of illegal business deals. With her life in danger, she is rescued by Bastien Toussaint, who poses distinct dangers of his own. "Skillful plotting, solid pacing, and compelling characters add up to a suspenseful tale," commented Ramsdell in another Library Journal review.

Stuart's writing style tends to be unrestricted and freeform, as she explained in her CrescentBlues.com interview: "I'll have an idea … where the story should go, maybe envision a few scenes, but mostly I work without a net, just making things up as I go along, from beginning to end of the story." "I'm a completely right-brained writer," she added; "charts and organization are anathema to me."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Library Journal, August, 2003, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Into the Fire, p. 67; August, 2004, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Hidden Honor, p. 58; April 15, 2005, Kristin Ramsdell, "Romance," review of Black Ice, p. 68.

Publishers Weekly, July 7, 2003, review of Into the Fire, p. 58.

ONLINE

All about Romance Web site, http://www.likesbooks.com/ (March 3, 2000), "Anne Today, Anne Tomorrow: A Q&A with Anne Stuart in Serialized Form."

AllReaders.com, http://www.allreaders.com/ (June 19, 2005), Harriet Klausner, review of Into the Fire and Still Lake; DeborahAnne MacGillivray, review of Into the Fire, Lady Fortune, Moonrise, Shadow Lover, Shadows at Sunset, and Still Lake; Darina Milovanovich, review of The Widow.

Anne Stuart Home Page, http://www.anne-stuart.com (June 19, 2005).

CrescentBlues.com, http://www.crescentblues.com/ (December 25, 2005), Jean Marie Ward, interview with Stuart.

RomanticTimes.com, http://www.romantictimes.com/ (June 19, 2005), Debbie Richardson, review of A Dark and Stormy Night, Into the Fire, Still Lake, The Right Man, The Soldier and the Baby, The Widow, Wild Thing, and Winter's Edge; Kathe Robin, review of Hidden Honor, Lady Fortune, Prince of Magic, Prince of Swords, and Lord of Danger; Jill M. Smith, review of Moonrise, Nightfall, Ritual Sins, and Shadow Lover.