Patricia Maxwell

Patricia Maxwell (born Patricia Anne Ponder; March 9, 1942, near Goldonna, Louisiana), is an American writer. A member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and the Affaire de Coeur Romance Hall of Fame, Maxwell has received numerous awards for her writing. Her first novel in the romance genre, Love's Wild Desire, became a New York Times Bestseller.

Maxwell has published books under five different names. Using her real name, Patricia Maxwell, she wrote Gothic mystery-suspense romances. She wrote one book in collaboration with Carol Albritton that was published under the name Elizabeth Trehearne. Under her maiden name, Patricia Ponder, she wrote a murder mystery and a romantic suspense story. As Maxine Patrick, she wrote contemporary romances, and historical romances. she wrote as Jennifer Blake. Many of her books are set in her native Louisiana.

Biography

Early years Maxwell is a seventh generation Louisianan of English, Irish, Welsh, Scots-German, French, and Indigenous descent. She was born in a large farm house in Northern Louisiana. Through her mother, who belonged to a mail order book club, Maxwell was introduced at an early age to adult mysteries, westerns, historical novels, and romances. As a young teenager, she volunteered at the school library.

At age 15, Patricia Ponder married and took her husband's surname of Maxwell, becoming a housewife and mother. She began writing one morning when she was 21, attempting to describe a very vivid dream she'd had that was set in historical Scotland. She took a six-week correspondence course on writing and began practicing as much as she could.

Writing career For the next seven years, Maxwell sold various poems, articles, and short stories before selling her first novel manuscript in 1970.

Maxwell's early works, published under her own name, were mystery suspense novels. In the mid-1970s, this type of novel became less popular. Maxwell suddenly had trouble selling new works. After two years of struggling to find another niche, Maxwell was asked to write a proposal for an emerging genre, historical romance. Her first novel in this genre, Love's Wild Desire, became a New York Times Bestseller under the pseudonym Jennifer Blake (so that fans of her previous work would not be confused).

Maxwell has been writing romance and historical novels as Jennifer Blake for over 30 years. The book is often set between 1830 and 1850 and take place in Louisiana.

Personal life Maxwell writes for six hours a day, five days a week in her home office, usually completing one book each year. In her spare time, she enjoys collecting antiques, painting, and quilting. Because she is allergic to many chemicals, she and her husband maintain a small organic garden to cultivate their own produce. They also grow antique roses.

After selling her first novel manuscript in 1970, she spent her first check on a greenhouse.

Maxwell and her husband live in Northern Louisiana, with a second home in Colorado. They have four children and several grandchildren.

Works

As Patricia Maxwell

Single novels The Secret of the Mirror House, 1970 Stranger at Plantation Inn, 1971 The Bewitching Grace, 1973 The Court of the Thorn Tree, 1973 Dark Masquerade, 1974 Bride of a Stranger, 1974 Love's Wild Desire, 1977 The Notorious Angel, 1977 Sweet Piracy, 1978 Night of the Candles, 1978

As Elizabeth Trehearne

Single Novel Storm at Midnight, 1973

As Patricia Ponder

Single novels Haven of Fear, 1974 Murder for Charity, 1974

As Maxine Patrick

Single novels The Abducted Heart, 1978 Bayou Bride, 1978 Snowbound Heart, 1979 Captive Kisses, 1980 Love at Sea, 1980 April of Enchantment, 1981

As Jennifer Blake

Single novels Tender Betrayal, 1979 The Storm and the Splendor, 1979 Golden Fancy, 1980 Embrace and Conquer, 1981 Midnight Waltz, 1984 Surrender in Moonlight, 1984 Fierce Eden, 1985 Prisoner of Desire, 1986 Louisiana Dawn, 1987 Southern Rapture, 1987 Perfume of Paradise, 1988 Love and Smoke, 1989 Spanish Serenade, 1990 Joy and Anger, 1991 Wildest Dreams, 1992 Arrow to the Heart, 1993 Shameless, 1994 Silver-Tongued Devil, 1995 Tigress, 1996 Garden of Scandal, 1997

Royal Family of Ruthenia series Royal Seduction, 1983 Royal Passion, 1985

Louisiana's Gentlemen Benedict series Kane, 1998 Luke, 1999 Roan, 2000 Clay, 2001 "Adam" in With a Southern Touch, 2002 Wade, 2002

Masters at Arms series Challenge to Honor, 2005 Dawn Encounter, 2006 Rogue's Salute, 2007 Guarded Heart, 2008 Gallant Match, 2009

Anthologies in collaboration "Dream Lover" in A Dream Come True, 1994 (with Georgina Gentry, Shirl Henke, Anita Mills and Becky Lee Weyrich) "Besieged Heart" in Secret of the Heart, 1994 (with Madeline Baker, Georgina Gentry, Shirl Henke and Patricia Rice) "The Warlock's Daughter" in Star-Dust, 1994 "Reservations" in Honeymoon Suite, 1995 (with Margaret Brownley, Ruth Jean Dale and Sheryl Lynn) "Out of the Dark" in A Purrfect Romance!, 1995 (with Robin Lee Hatcher and Susan Wiggs) "Pieces of Dreams" in The Quilting Circle, 1996 (with Jo Anne Cassidy, Joanne Cassity, Christina Cordaire and Linda Shertzer) A Vision of Sugarplums in Joyous Season, 1996 (with Olga Bicos, Hannah Howell and Fern Michaels) "Love in Three-Quarter Time" in Unmasked, 1997 (with Janet Dailey and Elizabeth Gage) "John 'Rip' Peterson" in Southern Gentleman, 1998 (with Emilie Richards) With a Southern Touch, 2002 (with Heather Graham and Diana Palmer) "Pieces of Dreams" in With Love, 2002 (with Kristin Hannah and Linda Lael Miller)

Awards

Inducted into Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame 1997 Frank Waters Award for Writing Excellence 1997 Holt Medallion, Southern Theme, Virginia Romance Writers: SILVER-TONGUED DEVIL 1995 "Climbing Rose" Award, North Louisiana Romance Authors 1995 Lifetime Honorary Membership, Coeur de Louisiane, Inc. Writers Club 1994 Romance Hall of Fame, Affaire de Coeur Magazine 1994 Reviewer’s Choice Winner, Affaire de Coeur: SHAMELESS 1993-1994 Reviewer’s Choice Certificate of Excellence, Romantic Times: SHAMELESS 1992-1993 Reviewer’s Choice Certificate of Excellence, Romantic Times: ARROW TO THE HEART 1991-1992 Reviewer’s Choice Certificate of Excellence, Romantic Times: WILDEST DREAMS 1988 Keynote Speaker, Romance Writers of America National Conference 1988 Honorary Membership, Romance Writers of America 1988 Silver Plume Award, Affaire de Coeur: SOUTHERN RAPTURE 1988 Best Colonial Romance, Romantic Times: LOUISIANA DAWN 1987 Golden Treasure Award, Lifetime Achievement, Romance Writers of America 1987 "Maggie" Award, Georgia Romance Writers: SOUTHERN RAPTURE 1987 "Climbing Rose" Award, North Louisiana Romance Authors 1985 "Maggie" Award, Georgia Romance Writers: MIDNIGHT WALTZ 1985 Historical Romance Author of the Year, Romantic Times