Upcher, Caroline 1946-

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UPCHER, Caroline 1946-

(Carly McIntyre, Hope McIntyre)

PERSONAL:

Born 1946, in London, England; daughter of a British army officer (father).

ADDRESSES:

Home—Amagansett, NY. Agent—Joy Harris, The Joy Harris Literary Agency, Suite 617, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Author, journalist, and editor. Hutchinson (publisher), London, England, secretary, c. 1964; Pan Books (publisher), London, junior literary agent, c. 1965; then worked variously in film and publishing, serving as a production secretary, script girl, story editor, coordinator of movie tie-in books, and editor; editorial director for fiction at Pan Books, London, eleven years; then editorial director for other publishers, including Random House UK; became editor at Miramax Books, New York, NY.

WRITINGS:

(As Carly McIntyre) Next of Kin, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1990.

(Ghost writer; with Naomi Campbell) Swan, William Heinemann (London, England), 1994.

Falling for Mr. Wrong, Trafalgar Square (London, England), 1996, Kensington Books (New York, NY), 2002.

The Asking Price, Orion Books (London, England), 2000, published as Down by the Water, Harper Collins (New York, NY), 2001.

(With James and Nanci LaGarenne) Within a Whisper, Morrow (New York, NY), 2001.

Grace and Favor, Kensington Books (New York, NY), 2001.

The Visitors' Book, Kensington Books (New York, NY), 2002.

The Boathouse, Kensington Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Contributor of articles and profiles to such publications as Condé Nast and Mirabella.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

A crime series, written under the name Hope McIntyre, about a ghostwriter whose assignments involve her in murder investigations, to be published by Mysterious Press/Warner Books; How to Seduce a Ghost, set in Notting Hill, London, for 2005 publication; How to Marry a Ghost, set on Long Island.

SIDELIGHTS:

Love is a central theme in Caroline Upcher's novels. In 1996 she published Falling for Mr. Wrong, her first book released under her own name. It tells the story of Polly, a literary agent with the inability to find Mr. Right. Upcher mined her knowledge of the film and publishing industries to add authenticity to Polly's adventures. A contributor for Kirkus Reviews called the book a "muddled but agreeable love story of sorts," and a contributor to Publishers Weekly wrote that "Polly is a likable spaz, and Upcher paints the literary and film worlds in delicious detail."

Within a Whisper resulted from an online contest, conceived and coordinated by Upcher and cosponsored by Redbook and HarperCollins Publishers, to find the greatest love story in America. The novel is a fictionalized account of the true-life love affair of James and Nanci LaGarenne, who won the competition, and recounts their relationship from childhood sweethearts to a couple fighting to save a marriage that had succumbed to disappointment and hardship.

Down by the Water tells the story of Hope Collins, a twice-married mother of three who still has a fondness for her ex. A Publishers Weekly reviewer wrote that "Upcher's lovers are all star-crossed in this with-it, literate sitcom about who's right for whom," calling it "an enchanting ride."

The Visitors' Book combines the classic country-house murder mystery with a love story, set in a weekend cottage where the characters go to escape the bustle of London. Carol Haggas, reviewing for Booklist, wrote that "amid the bed hopping and back stabbing, Upcher … populates this fast-paced story with memorable, if rather two-dimensional, characters." A contributor for Publishers Weekly called the work "a satisfying read."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, June 1, 2001, Kathleen Hughes, review of Down by the Water, p. 1850; July, 2001, Carol Haggas, review of Grace and Favor, p. 1984; December 15, 2001, Carol Haggas, review of The Visitors' Book, p. 705; October 15, 2002, Carol Haggas, review of Falling for Mr. Wrong, p. 389.

Choice, October, 1997, review of The Visitors' Book, p. 19.

Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2001, review of The Visitors' Book, p. 1578; September, 15, 2002, review of Falling for Mr. Wrong, p. 1347.

Library Journal, May 15, 2001, Jodi L. Israel, review of Down by the Water, p. 166.

Publishers Weekly, August 19, 1996, review of Falling for Mr. Wrong, p. 63; June 18, 2001, review of Down by the Water, p. 59; July 23, 2001, review of Grace and Favor, p. 52; August 27, 2001, review of Within a Whisper, p. 55; December 10, 2001, review of The Visitors' Book, p. 53; November 11, 2002, review of Falling for Mr. Wrong, p. 43.

Times (London, England), June 7, 1997, Christine Koning, "Mr. Misunderstood: Novels in Brief," p. 12.