Roberta Helmer

Roberta Helmer (July 19, 1950 – May 21, 2018), under her pseudonym Christina Skye, was the best-selling American author of more than thirty-two novels in a variety of genres: romantic suspense, paranormal romance, as well as contemporary and historical romances. Many of her books have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists and the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Her books have been translated into ten languages. Under her own name Helmer has written five non-fiction books about the classical Chinese puppet theater and traditional Chinese folk arts.

Biography Roberta Helmer was born in Dayton, Ohio, a descendant of American Revolutionary War hero Adam Helmer. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and Ohio State University, where she learned to speak fluent Chinese, French, and Japanese.

After receiving a doctorate in classical Chinese literature from Ohio State, Helmer became a translator, and was once nearly arrested when her European employer asked her to escort two ladies of dubious virtue into China's State Guest House. She later worked as a consultant to the National Geographic Society and the American Museum of Natural History. Her first historical romance, a Regency, was rejected by the first editor who received it because it did not strictly adhere to the current Regency convention. The following week, two other editors asked to represent her, In 2005 Helmer was inducted into the Affaire de Coeur Hall of Fame for her "pioneering efforts..and ability to remain a steadfast influence in women's fiction."

She lived in on the western slopes of McDowell Mountains in Arizona.