Maris Soule is an American author of romance

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...

 and romantic suspense novels and short stories. Her latest book, The Crows, is a mystery novel. Her books feature a variety of settings and situations, including the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Search and Rescue dogs

Search and rescue dog

The use of dogs in search and rescue is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. Dedicated handlers and well-trained dogs are required for the use of dogs to be effective in search efforts...

, barrel racing

Barrel racing

Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a clover-leaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both boys and girls compete at the youth level and men compete in some amateur venues, in collegiate and professional ranks, it is primarily a rodeo...

, dressage

Dressage

Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...

, and a Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed developed in Southern Africa, where it was used to hunt Lions. This is most likely why this dog is known for its bravery...

 puppy.

Biography

Maris Soule was born in Oakland, California. She graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.A. After receiving a Lifetime Teaching Credential from U.C. Berkeley, she taught art and math at Rio Americano High School

Rio Americano High School

Rio Americano High School, colloquially known as Rio, is an American public high school in Sacramento, California, serving students in grades 9 through 12 as part of the San Juan Unified School District. Brian T. Ginter is the principal...

, Carmichael, California

Carmichael, California

Carmichael is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 61,762 at the 2010 census, up from 49,742 at the 2000 census.-Geography and geology:Carmichael...

, La Cumbre Junior High School, Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...

, and Galesburg-Augusta High School, Galesburg, Michigan

Galesburg, Michigan

Galesburg is a city in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,009 at the 2010 census.Galesburg is on the north side of the Kalamazoo River on the boundary between Comstock Charter Township on the west and Charleston Township on the east, but is politically independent...

. She married in 1968, and she and her husband moved to Michigan in 1970.

Recognition and awards

Several of her books have been finalists or winners of awards from the 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:...

 and the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America.

• Finalist for RWA's 1988 RITA Award
  RITA Award
  The RITA Award is the most prominent award given throughout the genre of romance novel and some other romantic fiction. It is presented by Romance Writers of America . It is named for the RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada. It signifies excellence in one of 13 categories of romantic fiction.-...
  
  (known then as the Golden Medallion Award) for A Winning Combination
• First Place, Short Contemporary, WisRWA Write Touch: Readers' Choice Award
• First Place, Traditional Category, WisRWA Write Touch: Readers' Choice Award for Substitute Mom
• Second Place, 1998 Kiss of Death contest for Shelter from the Storm
• Finalist for 1999 RITA Award and 3rd in Kiss of Death contest for Chase the Dream

External links

• Maris Soule's website
• Extract from The Crows
• Maris Soule at Fantastic Fiction