Silver Bells

This New York Times bestselling author has a passion for romance that stems from her passion for the other joys in her life — her family, animals, and historic homes. She is usually found in New Jersey or South Carolina, where she is either tapping out stories on her computer or completing some kind of historical restoration. Legions of fans around the world thrill to the romantic stories Ms. Michaels creates in every one of her novels.

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author JoAnn Ross has been published in twenty-seven countries. A member of Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of bestselling authors, JoAnn lives with her husband and three rescued dogs — who pretty much rule the house — in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her on the web at www.joannross.com.

Mary has been writing historical romance novels for several years. She sold her first book, a Harlequin Historical novel, A Bride for McCain in January, 1999, and saw it published the following year in March. Her second book, The Colorado Bride, was a June, 2001, Harlequin Historical novel.

Mary is also the author of The Insider's Guide to Direct Marketing (1995 by Zwieg White Associates), a marketing manual geared toward architectural/engineering firms. She has worked as a freelance writer and written (or ghostwritten) dozens of articles for publications including The RWR, Virginia Review, and Innsbrook Today.

A 1983 graduate of Hollins University, Mary was the marketing director for a 100-person civil engineering firm before deciding to write full time. She is based in Richmond, Virginia, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Judy always loved reading romances, but never thought of herself as a writer.

"English was my least favorite subject in school, but I was always a storyteller," she admits. "Growing up, I was the kid in the neighborhood who decided what roles we would play and the pretend situation were in."

As a single mom with four children, Judy returned to school and graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a degree in social ecology. The new direction helped her confidence grow, and when a hero she could believe in came into her real life, she was even more inspired. Determined to do something about her love of writing, Judy joined Romance Writers of America and met her two critique partners. The trio have worked together and encouraged each other ever since.

Judy likes to take ordinary characters and put them in emotionally compelling situations that make them grow. "It takes some of the stubborn and hurting characters a while to learn there is always a way out," Judy maintains, "but when they realize their options, there's no stopping them."

Her unpublished stories won not only the coveted Emily and Orange Rose Awards, but also earned her the status of a double Golden Heart finalist in 2001. Her first book, Cowboy Courage, sold to the Silhouette Special Edition line, where she seems to have found her niche. "I credit a large part of my success to my critique partners, Crystal Green and Sheri WhiteFeather, who also write for Silhouette," she says.

On those days when a stubborn hero and a headstrong heroine claim her undivided attention, she and her family are thankful for fast food, pizza delivery, and video games. When she's not at the keyboard or in a Walter-Mitty-type world, she enjoys traveling, romantic evenings with her personal hero, and playing board games with her kids.

Write to Judy at P.O. Box 498, San Luis Rey, CA 92068.