Nancy Warren
Encyclopedia
Nancy Warren is a Pacific Northwest
author
of contemporary romance novels. She received her first publication contract after winning Harlequin's 2000 Summer Blaze contest. Since then, she has released 30 novels and novellas, been twice nominated for the Romance Writers of America
's RITA Award, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award.
, British Columbia
. After graduating with an honours degree in English literature
from the University of British Columbia
, she began work as a journalist. For five years, she worked her way up the journalistic ladder, from answering phones to writing to editing. The work taught her the need for brevity and clarity in writing, as well as the fact that an article must grab the reader's attention immediately.
Ready for a change, Warren moved into corporate communications and public relations. She worked for both government and businesses and ran her own company for a time. She quit her job when her husband was transferred to Vancouver, and spent the next four years learning how to write a novel. In 1999, she won the Molly Contest in the Short Contemporary Category. The following year, she entered Harlequin Books's 2000 Summer Blaze Contest. The contest, designed to highlight the new Harlequin Blaze line of category romances, required her to submit a 10-page love scene and a synopsis for a complete book. Warren won the contest, giving her a contract to write her Blaze novel. Two weeks later, Harlequin bought two manuscripts which she had previously submitted. One of these, Flashback, became her first published novel, a July 2001 Harlequin Temptation. The other, Shotgun Nanny, became a Harlequin Duet. Her submission for the Blaze contest became her second publication, Live a Little.
Warren has continued to write for both the Harlequin Temptation and Harlequin Blaze lines. She says these are her favorite lines because of "the contemporary tone, the sexy feel", and that many of them contain humour. The two lines are similar, except that Blaze allows for a longer book (by about 15,000 words) and has steamier love scenes. In 2004, Warren branched into single-title novels with the release of Drive Me Crazy. In 2007, she became the launch author for a new Harlequin series celebrating NASCAR
. She wrote the first and last book in the sixteen-book series. Both of her novels featured cameo appearances by real-life NASCAR driver Carl Edwards
, who worked closely with Warren to create a "suitable fictional representation of himself." Her work with the NASCAR series was featured on the front page of the New York Times.
Each of her category romance novels takes Warren approximately three months to write, and she often spends six months or more writing her single-title novels. Her goal is to finish at least ten rough draft pages per day. Warren claims to always be planning her next book while writing. Although she lives in Canada, the majority of her novels have been set in the United States
, usually in places that she has visited.
RITA Award, the romance author's equivalent of an Academy Award.
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
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 contemporary romance novels. She received her first publication contract after winning Harlequin's 2000 Summer Blaze contest. Since then, she has released 30 novels and novellas, been twice nominated for 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:...
's RITA Award, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award.
Biography
Nancy Warren was born and raised in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. After graduating with an honours degree in English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, she began work as a journalist. For five years, she worked her way up the journalistic ladder, from answering phones to writing to editing. The work taught her the need for brevity and clarity in writing, as well as the fact that an article must grab the reader's attention immediately.
Ready for a change, Warren moved into corporate communications and public relations. She worked for both government and businesses and ran her own company for a time. She quit her job when her husband was transferred to Vancouver, and spent the next four years learning how to write a novel. In 1999, she won the Molly Contest in the Short Contemporary Category. The following year, she entered Harlequin Books's 2000 Summer Blaze Contest. The contest, designed to highlight the new Harlequin Blaze line of category romances, required her to submit a 10-page love scene and a synopsis for a complete book. Warren won the contest, giving her a contract to write her Blaze novel. Two weeks later, Harlequin bought two manuscripts which she had previously submitted. One of these, Flashback, became her first published novel, a July 2001 Harlequin Temptation. The other, Shotgun Nanny, became a Harlequin Duet. Her submission for the Blaze contest became her second publication, Live a Little.
Warren has continued to write for both the Harlequin Temptation and Harlequin Blaze lines. She says these are her favorite lines because of "the contemporary tone, the sexy feel", and that many of them contain humour. The two lines are similar, except that Blaze allows for a longer book (by about 15,000 words) and has steamier love scenes. In 2004, Warren branched into single-title novels with the release of Drive Me Crazy. In 2007, she became the launch author for a new Harlequin series celebrating NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
. She wrote the first and last book in the sixteen-book series. Both of her novels featured cameo appearances by real-life NASCAR driver Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards
Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
, who worked closely with Warren to create a "suitable fictional representation of himself." Her work with the NASCAR series was featured on the front page of the New York Times.
Each of her category romance novels takes Warren approximately three months to write, and she often spends six months or more writing her single-title novels. Her goal is to finish at least ten rough draft pages per day. Warren claims to always be planning her next book while writing. Although she lives in Canada, the majority of her novels have been set in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, usually in places that she has visited.
Awards
Warren has written more than 30 novels and novellas, some of which have appeared on the USAToday Bestseller List. She has won the Lauren Wreath Award, the Colorado Romance Writers Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Blaze. She has further been nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in series romance, and has twice been nominated for the Romance Writers of AmericaRomance 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, the romance author's equivalent of an Academy Award.
Novels
- Flashback (2001)
- Live a Little! (2001)
- Whisper (2002)
- Breathless (2002)
- By the Book (2003)
- Hot Off the Press (2003)
- Fringe Benefits (2003)
- Bad Boys Down Under (2004)
- Underneath It All (2004)
- Drive Me Crazy (2004)
- Turn Left at Sanity (2005)
- Aftershocks (Code Red) (2005)
- Private Relations (2005)
- British Bad Boys (2006)
- Indulge (2006)
- The Trouble With Twins (2006)
- Speed Dating (2007)
- Turn Two (2007)
- French Kissing (2008)
- The One I Want (2008)
Omnibus
- Heaven Scent / Shotgun Nanny (2002) (with Jacqueline Diamond)
- A Hickey for Harriet / A Cradle for Caroline (2003)
- Jingle Bell Rock: He sees you When You're Sleeping / All She Wants for Christmas / Turning up the Heat / Baby, It's Cold Outside / Blue Christmas / Nutcracker Sweet (2003) (with Janelle Denison, Susan Donovan, 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....
, Donna Kauffman, Alison Kent) - It Happened One Christmas (2003) (with Julie McBrideJulie McBrideJulie McBride is an American professional basketball player who is currently a member of the Kayseri Pan Kup Basketball team after leading Samsun Basketbol Kulübü in the Turkish Women's Basketball League to the 2nd place and leading her team in scoring and assist...
and Susan WiggsSusan WiggsSusan Wiggs is an American author of historical and contemporary romance novels.-Early years:Wiggs began writing as a child, finishing her first novel, A Book About Some Bad Kids, when she was eight. She temporarily abandoned her dream of being a novelist after graduating from Harvard University,...
) - Stroke of Midnight (2003) (with Carrie AlexanderCarrie AlexanderCarrie Alexander is a character appearing in Marvel Comics main universe who is a supporting character of Namor and the daughter of Caleb Alexander. The two are both marine biologists, and they are both known for their helpings to the Sub-Mariner...
, Jamie Ann Denton) - Bad Boys On Board (2003) (with 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....
, Donna Kauffman) - Bad Boys with Expensive Toys (2004) (with MaryJanice DavidsonMaryJanice DavidsonMaryJanice Davidson is an American author who writes mostly paranormal romance, but also young adult literature and non-fiction....
, Karen Kelley) - Hot and Bothered / Underneath It All (2004) (with Kate HoffmannKate HoffmannPeggy Hoffmann is an American writer of over 45 romance novels since 1993 as Kate Hoffmann. She lives in southeastern Wisconsin.-Biography:...
) - Merry Christmas, Baby (2004) (with Susanna CarrSusanna CarrSusanna Carr, also Jenesi Ash is an American romance author living in the Pacific Northwest. Her sexy contemporary novels have been translated into seven languages....
, MaryJanice Davidson, Donna Kauffman, Erin McCarthy, Lucy Monroe) - Bad Boys To Go (2005) (with 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....
, Janelle Denison) - Bayou Bad Boys (2005) (with JoAnn RossJoAnn RossJoAnn Ross is popular US writer of over 95 romance novels since 1983. She has also written novels as JoAnn Robbins and JoAnn Robb....
, E C Sheedy) - Perfect Timing: Those Were the Days / Pistols at Dawn / Time After Time (2006) (with Julie KennerJulie KennerJulie Kenner is an American author.Originally from California Kenner grew up in Texas and received a bachelors degree in radio-television-film from the University of Texas at Austin and later attended law school at Baylor University in Waco, Texas...
, Jo Leigh) - The Night We Met (2007) (with Julie KennerJulie KennerJulie Kenner is an American author.Originally from California Kenner grew up in Texas and received a bachelors degree in radio-television-film from the University of Texas at Austin and later attended law school at Baylor University in Waco, Texas...
, Jo Leigh)