Maggie Shayne
Encyclopedia
Maggie Shayne is an American
author
of more than 50 romance and paranormal novels. She has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Romance Writers of America
RITA Award. In addition to her work as a novelist, Shayne is active in the Wiccan religion, and is the High Priestess of a coven she founded.
.
Even as a child, Shayne liked to tell stories and rewrite the endings of some she had read, as well as those of the horror movies she loved to watch. Her first attempt at a novel did not come until she was older, when she wove a story in her head while trying to comfort a sick baby. Because she had been in the mood to read a romance novel that day, the story she envisioned was also a romance. Within days, she had transferred her story to paper, writing longhand on a yellow pad. Realizing that if she ever planned to be a published writer she would need a typewriter, Shayne took a job watching a neighbor's horses so that she could earn the money to buy her first typewriter. She soon finished three manuscripts, which she was unable to sell. Her fortunes changed when Harlequin
launched their Shadows line. Shayne sent a query letter to let them know that: "I'm just jumping up and down; so happy that you have created a line especially for me!" Although the editor rejected her first book, Shayne's enthusiasm impressed her enough that she asked to see more novels, and purchased the second. That novel became the first of Shayne's Wings in the Night series, which was so popular that Silhouette asked Shayne to continue writing the series even after the Shadows line was closed.
, Penguin Putnam, Spilled Candy Books, and MIRA Books). Her paranormal romances seamlessly "combine the hearts of two such diverse genres as romance and horror" which proclaim that "the key is the redemption of the monster by the sheer power of love." Many of her novels "[blend] mysticism into everyday life in a good vs. evil scenario."
As a sideline, Shayne also worked as a writer for the soap opera
s Guiding Light and As the World Turns, and even considered accepting the position of co-head-writer before deciding to devote her time to her novels.
Her novels have appeared on the USA Today
, Booksense and Waldenbooks
bestseller lists, and Twilight Hunger reached Number 18 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Many of her books have been chosen by Doubleday Bookclub, the Mystery Guild, and Rhapsody Bookclub. On her thirteenth nomination for a Romance Writers of America
RITA Award, Shayne finally won the prestigious award, which is the romance community's equivalent of an Academy Award. She has also won three Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine.
, and includes some of her research in her novels, including Destiny. After several years of study at the Black Forest Clan, a chartered Wiccan seminary, Shayne has become a High Priestess and an Elder in the Wicca
religion, and has been licensed as a minister. Shayne has founded her own coven, the Hawks of RavenMyst, in a "tradition" (similar to a denomination), known as the RavenMyst Circle, that she helped found.
Shayne has five grown daughters. She resides in a small town in upstate New York.
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 more than 50 romance and paranormal novels. She has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America
Romance 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. In addition to her work as a novelist, Shayne is active in the Wiccan religion, and is the High Priestess of a coven she founded.
Early years
Maggie Shayne was born and raised in a rural area near Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Even as a child, Shayne liked to tell stories and rewrite the endings of some she had read, as well as those of the horror movies she loved to watch. Her first attempt at a novel did not come until she was older, when she wove a story in her head while trying to comfort a sick baby. Because she had been in the mood to read a romance novel that day, the story she envisioned was also a romance. Within days, she had transferred her story to paper, writing longhand on a yellow pad. Realizing that if she ever planned to be a published writer she would need a typewriter, Shayne took a job watching a neighbor's horses so that she could earn the money to buy her first typewriter. She soon finished three manuscripts, which she was unable to sell. Her fortunes changed when Harlequin
Harlequin Enterprises Ltd
Harlequin Enterprises Limited is a Toronto, Ontario-based company that is a publisher of series romance and women's fiction. Owned by the Torstar Corporation, the largest newspaper publisher in Canada, the company publishes approximately 120 new titles each month in 29 different languages in 107...
launched their Shadows line. Shayne sent a query letter to let them know that: "I'm just jumping up and down; so happy that you have created a line especially for me!" Although the editor rejected her first book, Shayne's enthusiasm impressed her enough that she asked to see more novels, and purchased the second. That novel became the first of Shayne's Wings in the Night series, which was so popular that Silhouette asked Shayne to continue writing the series even after the Shadows line was closed.
Career Success
Since then, Shayne has had over 50 novels published, including category romance, contemporary western romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and time travel romance. She has written for the Silhouette Intimate Moments line and Silhouette Romantic Suspense and for five single-title publishing companies (Avon Books, St. Martin's PressSt. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
, Penguin Putnam, Spilled Candy Books, and MIRA Books). Her paranormal romances seamlessly "combine the hearts of two such diverse genres as romance and horror" which proclaim that "the key is the redemption of the monster by the sheer power of love." Many of her novels "[blend] mysticism into everyday life in a good vs. evil scenario."
As a sideline, Shayne also worked as a writer for the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s Guiding Light and As the World Turns, and even considered accepting the position of co-head-writer before deciding to devote her time to her novels.
Her novels have appeared on the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, Booksense and Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks , operated by the Walden Book Company, Inc., was an American shopping mall-based bookstore chain and a subsidiary of Borders Group. The chain also ran a video game and software chain under the name Waldensoftware as well as a children's edutainment chain under Walden Kids...
bestseller lists, and Twilight Hunger reached Number 18 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Many of her books have been chosen by Doubleday Bookclub, the Mystery Guild, and Rhapsody Bookclub. On her thirteenth nomination for a Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America
Romance 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, Shayne finally won the prestigious award, which is the romance community's equivalent of an Academy Award. She has also won three Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine.
Personal life
Shayne is very interested in the culture and religion of ancient SumerSumer
Sumer was a civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia, modern Iraq during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age....
, and includes some of her research in her novels, including Destiny. After several years of study at the Black Forest Clan, a chartered Wiccan seminary, Shayne has become a High Priestess and an Elder in the Wicca
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
religion, and has been licensed as a minister. Shayne has founded her own coven, the Hawks of RavenMyst, in a "tradition" (similar to a denomination), known as the RavenMyst Circle, that she helped found.
Shayne has five grown daughters. She resides in a small town in upstate New York.
Awards
- 1992-1993 - Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Best First Book, Reckless Angel
- 1993 - New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Award for Best Long Contmeporary, Miranda's Viking
- 1993-1994 - Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Series Romantic Fantasy
- 1993-1994 - Affaire de Coeur Magazine Favorite Paranormal Author of the Year
- 1995-1996 - Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Romantic Fantasy
- 1995-1995 - Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Best Contemporary Fantasy, Fairytale
- 1997-1998 - Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Best Mini-Series Romance, A Husband in Time
- 1997-1998 - Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Best Contemporary Fantasy, Forever Enchanted
- 2005 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award winner, Best Novella, "Her Best Enemy"
- Romantic Times Magazine Women in Search of Heroes (wISH) Award, Twilight Illusions
- Romantic Times Magazine WISH Award, Born in Twilight
- Romantic Times Gold Medallion Award, Twilight Illusions
- Romantic Times Gold Medallion Award, Forever Enchanted'
- six-time 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 (12-time nominee)
Wings in the Night Series
- Twilight Phantasies
- Twilight Memories
- Twilight Illusions
- Beyond Twilight (novella)
- Born in Twilight
- Twilight Vows (novella)
- Twilight Hunger
- Run from Twilight (novella)
- Embrace the Twilight
- Edge of Twilight
- Before Blue Twilight (online novella)
- Blue Twilight
- Prince of Twilight
- Demon's Kiss
- Lovers Bite
- Angel's Pain (out October 2008)
- Bloodline (out May 2009)
- Twilight Prophecy
- Twilight Fulfilled (out October 2011)
- Wings in the Night (omnibus) (books 1-3)
- At Twilight (omnibus) (Born in Twilight and Beyond Twilight)
- Two by Twilight (omnibus) (Run from Twilight and Twilight Vows)
- Twilight Begins (omnibus) (Twilight Phantasies and Twilight Memories)
Texas Brands
- The Littlest Cowboy
- The Baddest Virgin in Texas
- Badlands Bad Boy
- The Husband She Couldn't Remember
- That Mysterious Texas Brand Man
- The Baddest Bride in Texas
- The Outlaw Bride
- Angel Meets the Badman
- The Homecoming
- The Texas Brand: In the Beginning (omnibus)
Oklahoma All-Girl Brands
- The Brands Who Came for Christmas
- Brand-new Heartache
- Secrets and Lies
- Feels Like Home
Novels
- Reckless Angel
- Kiss of the Shadow Man
- Forever, Dad
- A Husband in Time
- Annie's Hero
- Million Dollar Marriage
- Out-of-this-world Marriage
- The Gingerbread Man
- Enemy Mind
- That Mysterious Man
- Thicker Than Water
- Miranda's Viking
- Stranger in Town
- Colder Than Ice
- Immortality
- Darker Than Midnight
- Eternal Love
- Immortal Desire
Collections
- Forgotten Vows (omnibus) (with Lindsay McKenna)
- Strangers In The Night (omnibus) (with Anne StuartAnne StuartAnne Stuart, born Anne Kristine Stuart , is a prolific and best-selling American romance novelist. She has written over 60 novels and was the recipient of the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.Her first book was published in 1974 by Ballantine Press when she was 25 years old...
and Chelsea Quinn YarbroChelsea Quinn Yarbro-Biography:She was born in Berkeley, California. She attended Berkeley schools through high school followed by three years at San Francisco State College .In November 1969 she married Donald Simpson and divorced in February 1982...
) - A Sprinkle of Fairy Dust (omnibus) (with Elizabeth BevarlyElizabeth BevarlyElizabeth Bevarly is an American writer of over 55 romance novels since 1989. She is a New York Times bestselling, award-winning author.-Biography:...
, Elaine Crawford, Marylyle Rogers) - Bewitched (omnibus) (with Lisa Higdon, Susan KrinardSusan KrinardSusan Krinard is an author of paranormal romance, science fiction, and fantasy.Krinard received a BFA in Illustration from the California College of Arts and Crafts. She became inspired to become an author when a close friend of hers read a romantic "Beauty and the Beast"-like excerpt she'd written...
, Amy Saunders) - Brides of the Night (omnibus) (1998) (with Marilyn Tracy)
- Moonglow (omnibus) (with Lindsay Longford, Angie Ray and Katherine SutcliffeKatherine SutcliffeKatherine Sutcliffe is a best-selling American author of romance novels. Many of her books are considered to be "dark" romances, examining issues traditionally not mentioned in the romance genre.-Biography:...
) - Silhouette Sensational: Forgotten Vows...? / license to Love / cowboy Daddy / babies On His Mind (omnibus)(with Barbara Boswell, Marie FerrarellaMarie FerrarellaMarie Ferrarella, née Rydzynski is a popular and prolific American writer of over 150 romance novels as Marie Ferrarella, which have been translated into at least seven languages...
, Susan MallerySusan MallerySusan Mallery is the author of over 80 books for Harlequin and Silhouette as well as full length novels. She lives in the Los Angeles Area with her husband and cats.- Booklist by Years:2010s:*Completely Smitten...
) - Veils of Time (omnibus) (with Lynn KurlandLynn KurlandLynn Kurland is a best-selling American author of historical, time travel, and fantasy romance novels. The characters in most of her books all belong to one of three extended families and her love scenes are not as explicit as many other popular romances.-Biography:Lynn Kurland is an only child...
, Angie Ray and Ingrid WeaverIngrid Weaver-Biography:Weaver was born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. She has a degree in English literature. After her youngest child entered school in 1989 she began writing in the hopes that she could build a career that would allow her to work from home...
) - Sinful (omnibus) (with Suzanne Forster, Lori FosterLori FosterLori L. Foster is a best-selling American writer of over seventy romance novels as Lori Foster. She also writes Urban Fantasy novels using using her first and middle initials, L.L. Foster....
, Kimberly Randell) - After Midnight (omnibus)
- Who Do You Love? (omnibus) (with Marilyn Pappano)
- Two Novels (omnibus) (with Lorna Tedder)
- Out of This World (omnibus) (with Laurell K. HamiltonLaurell K. HamiltonLaurell Kaye Hamilton is an American fantasy and romance writer. She is the author of two series of stories. Hamilton is known for her New York Times-bestselling Anita Blake series, featuring a professional zombie raiser/supernatural consultant for the police as the protagonist in a world where...
, Susan Krinard, J D Robb) - Broken Silence (omnibus) (with Eileen WilksEileen WilksEileen Wilks is an American award-winning fiction writer living in Midland, Texas.- Biography :Wilks lives in the West Texas town of Midland, Texas, and has previously, as a child, lived in Canada and Venezuela as well as twelve U.S...
and Anne Marie WinstonAnne Marie WinstonAnne Marie Rodgers is an American writer of romance novels as Anne Marie Winston. Many of her novels have appeared on the USAToday Bestseller lists and she has served as both vice-president and retreat chairman of the Washington Romance Writers....
) - Hot Summer Nights (omnibus) (with Lindsay McKenna, Dallas Schulze)
- Midnight Pleasures (omnibus) (with Amanda Ashley, Sherrilyn KenyonSherrilyn KenyonSherrilyn Kenyon is a bestselling US writer. Under her own name she writes Urban Fantasy, but is best known for her Dark-Hunter vampire series. Under the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor she wrote historicals also with paranormal elements...
and Ronda Thompson) - Pregnant with His Child (omnibus) (with Marilyn Pappano)
- Danger in the Shadows (omnibus) (with Linda Turner)
- Special Delivery (omnibus) (with Cathy Gillen ThackerCathy Gillen ThackerCathy Gillen Thacker is an American author of over seventy romance novels.-Biography:Thacker began writing to occupy herself while she was raising small children. She wrote seven books as she taught herself how to be an author. Her eighth attempt was finally published in July 1982...
) - Hot Blooded (omnibus) (with Christine FeehanChristine FeehanChristine Feehan is an American romance-paranormal writer. She has published more than 26 novels, including five series, and numerous novellas since 1999.-Biography:...
, Emma HollyEmma HollyEmma Holly is American author who specializes in writing erotica-romance novels, often with a focus on BDSM. She has written over twenty books and was a finalist for the Romance Writers of America 2004 RITA award for Best Paranormal Romance.-Biography:Emma Holly was born in New Jersey and raised...
, Angela KnightAngela KnightAngela Ann Knight is the Chief Executive of the British Bankers' Association . She was formerly a Conservative Party Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Erewash from 1992–97, and served as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 1995–97.-Early life:Born in Sheffield, Knight...
) - Man of My Dreams (omnibus) (with Suzanne Forster, Virginia Kantra, Sherrilyn Kenyon)
- Night's Edge (omnibus) (with Barbara HamblyBarbara HamblyBarbara Hambly is an award-winning and prolific American novelist and screenwriter within the genres of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and historical fiction...
, Charlaine HarrisCharlaine HarrisCharlaine Harris is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing mysteries for over twenty years. She was born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area of the United States. She now lives in southern Arkansas with her husband and three children...
) - Burning Bright (omnibus) (with Judith ArnoldJudith ArnoldBarbara Keiler , well known as Judith Arnold, is a best-selling American author of over eighty-five romance novels since 1983. She has also been published as Ariel Berk and Thea Frederick.-Biography:...
and Anne Stuart) - An expected Family (omnibus) (with Caroline Cross)
- Kick Ass (with Mary Janice Davidson, Jacey Ford, Angela Knight)
- Moon Fever (with Lori Handeland, Caridad Piñeiro, and Susan Sizemore)
- An Enchanted Season (with Jean Johnson, Erin McCarthy, Maggie Shayne and Nalini Singh)
See also
- Judy HarrowJudy Harrow- Biography :Judy Harrow was born in the Bronx also known as Judith Harrow and has lived the majority of her life in New York City.- Education :Harrow graduated from Bronx High School of Science in 1962. She then received a B.A. in American Government from Western College for Women in 1966. In...
- List of occult writers
- List of romantic novelists
- Margot AdlerMargot AdlerMargot Adler is an author, journalist, lecturer, Wiccan priestess and radio journalist and correspondent for National Public Radio .- Early life :Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Adler grew up mostly in New York City...
- Murry HopeMurry HopeMurry Hope Richard Ellis, Imagining Atlantis, 1998. Alfred A. Knoft - original from University of Michigan; pp. 64-70, 269. ISBN 0679446028. is an English woman writer, lecturer, psychic, healer, astrologer, numerologist, palmist, former lyric singer and universal occultist. She makes part of the...
- NeopaganismNeopaganismNeopaganism is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe...