Our Published Authors

Barb Simmons

Visit Barb Simmons on the web: http://BellesBuzz.blogspot.com

Barrett

Barrett spent her formative years in the quiet North Chicago suburbs. Art and music helped fuel an overactive imagination that eventually channeled into a flair for the dramatic and a dream of acting. Life and times deferred that dream but offered a new challenge. At her ten-year class reunion, Barrett announced plans to start nursing school. Nursing provided a career of endless challenges and learning opportunities spanning thirty years, several jobs, and great travels. After relocating from Illinois to Wisconsin to New Mexico, Barrett set down new roots and fell helplessly into a new passion—writing. With some encouragement and provocation, she spent fourteen years making up stories—roughly, twelve completed manuscripts. Then it was time to take the leap of faith and consider publication. That was when the real “learning” began. Readers, betas, critiques, mentors, edits, revisions, revisions, revisions, and then some pitches, some rejections, and some more revisions. And now, Barrett’s got books, published books. Her first book, “Damaged in Service” was a finalist for a Golden Crown Literary Society Award. It is the first of a four book series. But that’s not all for this story… Author of the "Damaged in Service" an "Defying Gravity"

Visit Barrett on the web: http://wordsofbarrett.wordpress.com

Cat Lovington

Originally from Long Island, New York, Cat Lovington found her way to the warmer climate and bright sunshine of New Mexico. After attending the University of New Mexico, Cat landed a job writing the feature and cover stories for a business and lifestyle magazine for physicians until boredom set in. Then it was on to the wonderful world of fiction, where she eventually heard the call of the wild and began to write erotica and erotic romance. Cat shares a rambling adobe on an acre of valley property about thirty miles away from Albuquerque with her long time husband and their two beloved toy poodles. During her leisure time, Cat enjoys reading, looking at the mountains from her back patio, and watching the wide variety of birds that use her acre of space as a bird sanctuary. Cat’s motto is: “If it isn’t fun, I don’t do it.” Fortunately, she thinks writing erotic romance is really a hoot, and when it comes to creating red-hot stories, this Cat doesn’t pussyfoot around. “I like to feel the heat when I’m writing, and I love to make my readers turn up the air conditioning.”

Visit Cat Lovington on the web: http://CatLovington.com/

Darynda Jones

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a RITA®, and a Daphne du Maurier. As a born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

Visit Darynda Jones on the web: http://www.darynda.com

Doranna Durgin

Fantasy, Romance, and Mystery: "Finding the Other; Facing the Other...Loving the Other" Doranna's quirkiness of spirit has led to an eclectic publishing journey, spanning genres over nearly 40 novels to include mystery, SF/F, action-romance, paranormal, franchise, and a slew of essays and short stories. Beyond that, mostly she still prefers to hang around outside her New Mexico mountain home with the animals, riding dressage on her Lipizzan and training for performance sports with the dogs. She doesn't believe so much in mastering the beast within, but in channeling its power. For good or bad has yet to be decided... On the side, Doranna does web design and plays with book covers and graphics, which is why you'll find her behind the scenes with Backlist eBooks co-founder Patricia Ryan, muttering about all the things on the site she needs to make perfect.

Visit Doranna Durgin on the web: http://doranna.net

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Gabi Stevens (Gabi Anderson)

Gabi Stevens travels the world with her robotics engineer husband and her three incredible daughters (Reality: she went to Europe last summer with her family, but lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico). Because she is fluent in three languages and knows Latin, her abilities are in demand from many different factions (Reality: she has Hungarian relatives who needed her to translate to her family and students to whom she taught English and Latin) and her knowledge has helped numerable writers in their quest for publication (Reality: she has presented many writing workshops and has a critique group). Her latest novels feature fairy godmothers. Her current release is Wishful Thinking, from Tor books. Gabi claims no magical powers of her own. You can find her at www.GabiStevens.com, at her blog, www.GabiStevens.wordpress.com, or on Twitter at twitter.com/GabiStevens or Facebook at Facebook.com/GabiStevensfans, unless she’s off on one of her world tours (Reality: she’s at home with her two dogs). Discover the magic: THE WISH LIST ; AS YOU WISH; WISHFUL THINKING.

Visit Gabi Stevens (Gabi Anderson) on the web: http://www.gabistevens.com

Helen Pilz

Visit Helen Pilz on the web: http://www.helenpilz.com

Jeffe Kennedy

Jeffe Kennedy took the crooked road to writing, stopping off at neurobiology, religious studies and environmental consulting before her creative writing began appearing in places like Redbook, Puerto del Sol, Wyoming Wildlife, Under the Sun and Aeon. An erotic novella, Petals and Thorns, came out under her pen name of Jennifer Paris in 2010, heralding yet another branch of her path, into erotica and romantic fantasy fiction. Since then, an erotic short, Feeding the Vampire, and another erotic novella, Sapphire, have hit the shelves. Her contemporary fantasy novel, Rogue’s Pawn, book one in A Covenant of Thorns, will be published in July, 2012. Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, with two Maine coon cats, a border collie, plentiful free-range lizards and frequently serves as a guinea pig for an acupuncturist-in-training.

Karen Fonville

Kathy Flake (writing as Kathryn Barrett)

Kathy Flake writes contemporary romance as Kathryn Barrett. Her first novel, Temptation, will be published in Spring 2013. After living in Albuquerque five years, she now lives near London, in the enchanting countryside of England. When she’s not writing, she’s busy walking her dog, tramping around archeological ruins, and occasionally making wine runs to France. Because nothing fuels the imagination like a good Bordeaux.

Visit Kathy Flake (writing as Kathryn Barrett) on the web: http://kathrynbarrett.com/

Katie Lane

Katie Lane is the bestselling author of the Deep in the Heart of Texas series. She believes that laughter is the best medicine and strives to write contemporary and western contemporary romance that will tickle her readers' funny bones and give them a happily-ever-after they won't soon forget. Katie resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico with her husband.

Visit Katie Lane on the web: http://katielanebooks.com

Louise Bergin

Mary O'Gara

Visit Mary O'Gara on the web: http://www.maryogara.com

Mona Karel

Mona Karel is the writing alter ego of Monica Stoner, who wrote Beatles fan fiction and terribly earnest (read just not very good) Gothics in her teen years. She set aside writing while working with horses and dogs all over the US, until she discovered used book stores and Silhouette Romances. Shortly after that she also discovered jobs that paid her for more than her ability to do a good scissors finish on a terrier, and moved into the “real” working world. Right around then she wrote her first full length book. It only took her twenty seven years to be published. She writes looking out the window at the high plains of New Mexico, with her Saluki dogs sprawled at her feet. Distraction much? ? Sometimes these silly dogs take over her life, but there is always room for one more set of characters in one more book

Visit Mona Karel on the web: http://mona-karel.com/

Paula Hampton

Paula is an artist as well as a writer, and attributes her romantic nature to her Irish-Italian heritage. She believes one side gifted her with a love of language, and the other with a sense of drama. Having grown up in New York watching TV Westerns and news of space programs, it seems fitting that she settled in New Mexico. She lives in Albuquerque with her husband, where she works for a research and development company. In what passes for free time, Paula enjoys painting, traveling the western United States and gardening native desert plants.

Robin Perini

Award-winning author ROBIN PERINI is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes adventure with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Her mission's motto: "When danger and romance collide, no heart is safe." After seven prestigious Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finals, Robin sold seven novels within one year. She won the Golden Heart® in 2011, and that title became her first Harlequin Intrigue, Finding Her Son (March 2012). Residing in the southwestern United States, by day, she works for an advanced technology corporation, and in her spare time, you might find her giving one of her many nationally acclaimed writing workshops or training in competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting. She is the author of In Her Sights (Montlake 2011), Finding Her Son, Cowboy in the Crossfire and Christmas Conspiracy (Harlequin Intrigue 2012) as well as the upcoming Montgomery Justice Series from Montlake Romance. You can find out more information at her website www.robinperini.com or visit her on Twitter @RobinPerini, Facebook (Robin PeriniAuthor) or Goodreads.

Visit Robin Perini on the web: http://www.robinperini.com

Samantha Ann King

Samantha Ann King was born and raised in Houston, Texas. After receiving her BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University and marrying her high school crush (notice she didn't say sweetheart), Samantha relinquished her "native Texan" status and moved to Baton Rouge. She has called Albuquerque, New Mexico home since 1985. The mother of three has volunteered in the community as an advocate for children's issues ranging from education to healthcare. In 2010, as her nest started to empty, she began writing erotic romance. Thanks to her win in Passionate Ink's Stroke of Midnight Contest, Samantha signed her first publishing contract in 2011. Learn more about Samantha at www.SamanthaAnnKing.com.

Visit Samantha Ann King on the web: http://www.samanthaannking.com

Sarah Baker

Sarah H. Baker grew up in New Orleans, the city of music, food, and wonderful stories. After running off to Alaska to enjoy a taste of the wild pipeline days, she returned to the Lower 48 and earned a Master's degree in engineering. As an engineer for the government, Sarah has lived all over the United States, but seems to have sprouted roots in New Mexico. While moving around, she stumbled onto the joy of her life: writing. Sarah writes mystery as S.H. Baker, romance as Sarah Storme, and erotica/erotic romance as Lydia Parks. She has written for Kensington, Harlequin, Five Star, and other publishers, and is most proud of her newest release, Return to Marshall's Bayou, a full-cast audio production from Siren Audio Studios of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Listen to a sample at www.SHBaker.com. Sarah also enjoys talking to readers and writers, and occasionally teaches classes for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of New Mexico.

Visit Sarah Baker on the web: http://www.SarahStorme.com

Shea Berkley

Shea Berkley is an author of YA (young adult) fantasy novels, which means she's the luckiest person alive ’cause she gets to spend her days playing with her characters. Some are totally cool, others aren’t so nice, but they all bring something to the party. Shea is a three time Golden Heart finalist and total writing geek. She loves talking books and plot and all things character. With her first book, TORREIN: AGE OF FEAR released, she quickly sold a three book fantasy series (Keepers of Life). She was thrilled when the first book in that series, THE MARKED SON, received great reviews. Her next book in the Keepers of Life series, THE FALLEN PRINCE, is due to hit bookstores in 2013. All her books can be found at your local bookstore or online at major retailers.

Visit Shea Berkley on the web: http://www.sheaberkley.com