Lisa Kleypas
Encyclopedia
Lisa Kleypas is a best-selling American
author
of historical
and contemporary romance novel
s. In 1985, she was named Miss Massachusetts
and competed in the Miss America
pageant in Atlantic City.
at Wellesley College, Her parents agreed to support her for a few months after her graduation so that she could finish her latest manuscript. Approximately two months later, at age 21, Kleypas sold her first novel.
At approximately the same time, the 5'2" Kleypas was named Miss Massachusetts. During her competition at the Miss America pageant, Kleypas sang a song she had written, earning her a "talented nonfinalist" award.
Kleypas has been a full-time romance writer since selling that first book. Her novels have ranked high on major best-seller lists, sold millions of copies around the globe and have been translated into fourteen different languages.
In October 1998, Kleypas's Texas home flooded within a matter of hours after heavy rains inundated their town. She and her family lost everything except the clothes they were wearing and her purse. Within days,her colleagues at Avon sent boxes of clothes and books to help the family recover. For Kleypas, though, the defining moment was the after the flood, when she and her mother (whose home had also flooded), made a quick trip to the store to purchase toothbrushes, clean clothes, and other necessities. Separately, each of them had also chosen a romance novel, a necessity to them in helping them escape the stress they were currently under. To Kleypas, this realization validated her decision to write romance novels instead of more literary works.
Though primarily known for her historical romance novels, Kleypas made an announcement in early 2006 concerning her momentary departure from historical romances to delve into the contemporary romance genre. She does plan to write historical romances again in the future.
Lisa lives in Washington with her husband, Gregory, and their two children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of historical
Historical romance
Historical romance is a subgenre of two literary genres, the romance novel and the historical novel.-Definition:Historical romance is set before World War II...
and contemporary romance novel
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
s. In 1985, she was named Miss Massachusetts
Miss Massachusetts
For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Massachusetts USAThe Miss Massachusetts competition is a scholarship pageant put on annually by the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Foundation, Inc...
and competed in the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
pageant in Atlantic City.
Biography
Kleypas has always loved to read, especially within the romance genre. She began writing her own romance novels during her summer breaks from studying political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Wellesley College, Her parents agreed to support her for a few months after her graduation so that she could finish her latest manuscript. Approximately two months later, at age 21, Kleypas sold her first novel.
At approximately the same time, the 5'2" Kleypas was named Miss Massachusetts. During her competition at the Miss America pageant, Kleypas sang a song she had written, earning her a "talented nonfinalist" award.
Kleypas has been a full-time romance writer since selling that first book. Her novels have ranked high on major best-seller lists, sold millions of copies around the globe and have been translated into fourteen different languages.
In October 1998, Kleypas's Texas home flooded within a matter of hours after heavy rains inundated their town. She and her family lost everything except the clothes they were wearing and her purse. Within days,her colleagues at Avon sent boxes of clothes and books to help the family recover. For Kleypas, though, the defining moment was the after the flood, when she and her mother (whose home had also flooded), made a quick trip to the store to purchase toothbrushes, clean clothes, and other necessities. Separately, each of them had also chosen a romance novel, a necessity to them in helping them escape the stress they were currently under. To Kleypas, this realization validated her decision to write romance novels instead of more literary works.
Though primarily known for her historical romance novels, Kleypas made an announcement in early 2006 concerning her momentary departure from historical romances to delve into the contemporary romance genre. She does plan to write historical romances again in the future.
Lisa lives in Washington with her husband, Gregory, and their two children.
Only Vallerand Series
- Only in Your Arms (1992) = When Strangers Marry (2002)
- Only with Your Love (1992)
Gamblers of Craven's Series
- Then Came You (1993)
- Dreaming of You (1994)
- Against the Odds in the Anthology Where's My Hero with Julia QuinnJulia QuinnJulia Quinn is the pseudonym used by Julie Pottinger , a best-selling American historical romance author, who says she chose her pseudonym so her Regency romances would be on bookshelves next to those of the successful romance writer Amanda Quick...
and Kinley MacGregor (2003)
Capitol Theatre Series
- Somewhere I'll Find You (1996)
- Because You're Mine (1997)
- I Will in the anthology Wish List with Lisa Cach, Claudia DainClaudia DainClaudia Dain is an American author of romance novels. She is a two-time Rita finalist, and a USA Today Bestselling author.-Regency:* The Courtesan's Daughter* The Courtesan's Secret* Wish List * Private Places ...
and Lynsay SandsLynsay SandsLynsay Sands is an award winning Canadian author of over 30 books. She is noted for the humor she injects into her stories. While she writes both historical and paranormal novels, she is best known for her Argeneau series about a modern family of vampires.- Biography :Sands grew up in Southern...
(2001)
Bow-Street Runners Series
- Someone to Watch Over Me (1999)
- Lady Sophia's Lover (2002)
- Worth Any Price (2003)
Wallflower Series
- Secrets of a Summer Night (2005)
- It Happened One Autumn (2005)
- Devil in Winter (2006)
- Scandal in Spring (2006)
- A Wallflower Christmas (2008)
The Hathaways Series
- Mine Till Midnight (2007)
- Seduce Me at Sunrise (2008)
- A Hathaway Wedding (short story) (2009)
- Tempt Me at Twilight (2009)
- Married By Morning (2010)
- Love In The Afternoon (2010)
Other Historical Romance Novels
- Love, Come to Me (1988)
- Give Me Tonight (1989)
- Stranger in My Arms (1998)
- Where Dreams Begin (2000)
- Suddenly You (2001)
- Again the Magic (2004) is the story of the sisters of the main character, Earl of Westcliff of It Happened One Autumn.
Novellas, Anthologies
- Surrender (1991, novella) in the anthology "Christmas Love Stories" (1991) with Diane Wicker Davis, Shannon Drake, Kay HooperKay HooperKay Hooper is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning American author of more than 60 books.-Biography:Kay Hooper was born on an Air Force base in California, where her father was stationed. The family soon moved back to North Carolina, where Hooper was raised with her younger brother and...
- Surrender in the 1994 anthology "A Christmas Present" with Loretta ChaseLoretta ChaseLoretta Chase, née Loretta Lynda Chekani is an American writer of romance novels since 1987.-Biography:Born Loretta Lynda Chekani in 1949, she attended New England public schools and she obtained a B.A. in the Clark University....
and Judith E French - Promises (1995, novella) in the anthology "Three Weddings and a Kiss" with Catherine AndersonCatherine AndersonCatherine Anderson, born in 1947, is an American best-selling writer of historical and contemporary romance novels.-Biography:Some of Anderson's earliest memories are of hearing her mother type stories on an old typewriter, and then read the finished work aloud. With this inspiration, Anderson...
, Loretta ChaseLoretta ChaseLoretta Chase, née Loretta Lynda Chekani is an American writer of romance novels since 1987.-Biography:Born Loretta Lynda Chekani in 1949, she attended New England public schools and she obtained a B.A. in the Clark University....
and Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - I Will (2001, novella) in the anthology Wish List with Lisa Cach, Claudia DainClaudia DainClaudia Dain is an American author of romance novels. She is a two-time Rita finalist, and a USA Today Bestselling author.-Regency:* The Courtesan's Daughter* The Courtesan's Secret* Wish List * Private Places ...
and Lynsay SandsLynsay SandsLynsay Sands is an award winning Canadian author of over 30 books. She is noted for the humor she injects into her stories. While she writes both historical and paranormal novels, she is best known for her Argeneau series about a modern family of vampires.- Biography :Sands grew up in Southern... - Against the Odds (2003, novella) part of the Craven series, in the anthology "Where's My Hero?" with Kinley MacGregor and Julia QuinnJulia QuinnJulia Quinn is the pseudonym used by Julie Pottinger , a best-selling American historical romance author, who says she chose her pseudonym so her Regency romances would be on bookshelves next to those of the successful romance writer Amanda Quick...
- Surrender in the 2006 anthology "Gifts of Love" with Kay HooperKay HooperKay Hooper is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning American author of more than 60 books.-Biography:Kay Hooper was born on an Air Force base in California, where her father was stationed. The family soon moved back to North Carolina, where Hooper was raised with her younger brother and...
- I Will in the 2008 anthology "A Historical Christmas Present" with Leigh Greenwood and Lynsay SandsLynsay SandsLynsay Sands is an award winning Canadian author of over 30 books. She is noted for the humor she injects into her stories. While she writes both historical and paranormal novels, she is best known for her Argeneau series about a modern family of vampires.- Biography :Sands grew up in Southern...
Travis Series (Contemporary)
- Sugar Daddy (2007)
- Blue Eyed Devil (2008)
- Smooth Talking Stranger (2009)
Friday Harbor (Contemporary)
- Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (Oct 26, 2010)
- Rainshadow Road (Jan, 2012)
- Griffin Bay (May, 2012)
- Dream Lake (Sept, 2012)
Awards
- 1998 - Waldenbooks Award for greatest sales growth, Someone to Watch Over Me
- 1999 - Romance Writers of AmericaRomance Writers of AmericaRomance Writers of America is a national non-profit genre writers association. It provides networking and support to individuals seriously pursuing a career in romance fiction and supports top authors such as Nora Roberts and Judith McNaught.-History:...
RITA Award finalist, Someone to Watch Over Me - 2002 - Romance Writers of American RITA Award finalist, Suddenly You
- 2002 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award winner for her Christmas anthology novella in Wish List
- 2002 - Romantic Times Magazine Best Sensuous Historical Romance, Lady Sophia's Lover
- 2002 - Publishers Weekly starred reviews for Lady Sophia's Lover and When Strangers Marry
- 2003 - Publishers Weekly starred review, Worth Any Price
- 2003 - Amazon Editor's Top Ten Picks forBest Romance of 2003, Where's My Hero and Worth Any Price
- 2004 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award for best Short Historical, Worth Any Price
- 2004 - Publishers Weekly starred review, Secrets of a Summer Night
- 2006 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist, Short Historical Category, It Happened One Autumn
- 2007 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist, Short Historical Category, The Devil in Winter and Scandal in Spring
External links
- Official Lisa Kleypas website
- Chapter excerpts and title list (Official publisher web page)
- A Conversation with Lisa Kleypas (Interview with Author)