Metsy Hingle is the national #1 best-selling author of more than twenty novels. Known for creating powerful and passionate stories, Metsy’s own life reads like the plot of a romance novel–from her early years in a New Orleans’ orphanage and foster care to her long, happy marriage to her husband Jim and the rearing of their four children. With more than three million copies of her books in print, Metsy’s novels frequently appear on national bestseller lists and have been published in twenty-four foreign countries. Her novels have also garnered a number of awards–including the R.W.A.’s Golden Heart Award, the Texas Gold Award, the Golden Quill Award, two Beacon Awards and two W.I.S.H. Awards from Romantic Times Magazine, as well as multiple Reviewer’s Choice and Career Achievement nominations from Romantic Times. Despite the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and the devastating personal losses in the Hingle family, Metsy’s home in Louisiana is safe and sound. Metsy says there was never any question that she would return and be a part of the rebirth of her beloved city. To that end, Metsy has pledged 10% of her earnings from “BLACK SILK” to the New Orleans area Habitat for Humanity. To learn more about Metsy’s pledge, visit her website at www.metsyhingle.com. Metsy resides across the lake from New Orleans with her husband and a bossy toy poodle named Molly Brown. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information. This author has also written under the names Ann Patrick and Trisha Alexander Patricia Ann Kay was born on 7 March 1937 in a small town in northeastern Ohio, USA, where she raised along with three younger sisters. She considers herself a very lucky woman. The family didn’t have a lot of money, but she says that didn’t matter, because what they did have was worth more than money—a happy home. Her parents had a good marriage and they doted on their four daughters. That upbringing is reflected in the stories she writes. As readers all over the world have discovered, her books are filled with warmth and love of family. Pat has lived in upstate New York, Northern Alabama, Southern California, and Stockholm (Sweden), and since 1969, in Houston, Texas with her husband. She says that no matter where she’s lived, she’s found that people everywhere are the same and want the same things: love and committed relationships. The marriage has three terrific grown children. They currently share their home with two longhaired cats, and a backyard filled with squirrels, birds, and other critters. Her hobbies and other interests include reading, walking for exercise, going to the movies and the theater, swimming, and traveling. In 1990, Pat sold her first romance novel to Silhouette. Since then, more than four million copies of her novels have been published in eighteen different countries. Today, Patricia Kay, alias Ann Patrick and Trisha Alexander, is an USA Today bestselling author of 50 novels of romance and women's fiction. Most people have a completely wrong idea of what writers do all day. Do you want to know what Pat's typical day is like? Click here to find out!

Winner of over 15 national awards, including the RWA Hall of Fame and the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, Jennifer Greene weaves real issues, warm characters common-life humor, and page-turning romance and suspense into her stories. Jennifer sold her first book in 1980, and since then has sold over 85 books in the contemporary romance genre. She won her first professional writing award from RWA, a “Silver Medallion” in 1984, followed by over 20 nominations and awards—including achieving RWA’s HALL OF FAME status, and the most coveted Nora Roberts LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. Jennifer has regularly been on a variety of bestseller lists, and has written for Harlequin, Avon, Berkley and Dell. Her books have sold all over the world in over 20 languages. She also accumulated a number of pseudonyms—most recognizably JENNIFER GREENE, but also JEANNE GRANT and JESSICA MASSEY. She was born in Michigan, started writing stories in 7th grade, and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in English and Psychology. The University honored her with their “Lantern Night Award”, a tradition developed to honor fifty outstanding women graduates each year. Exploring issues and concerns for women today is what first motivated her to write, and she has long been an enthusiastic and active supporter of women’s fiction, which she believes is an unbeatable way to reach out and support other women. Jennifer lives in Michigan, just a short distance from Lake Michigan, with her husband Lar. Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. (1)romance aka Jeanne Grant