Mary Jo Putney
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
She writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.
Contents
On the Web
See Also
Books
- Alchemical Marriage, The - 2004
- Avalon - 1998
- Bartered Bride, The - 2002
- Best Husband Money Can Buy, The - 1997
- Black Beast Of Belleterre - 1992
- Burning Point, The / Stirring The Embers - 2000
- Carousel Of Hearts - 1989
- Chalice Of Roses - 2010
- China Bride, The - 2000
- Christmas Cuckoo, The - 1991
- Christmas Tart, The - 1992
- Christmas Candles: Two Novellas - 2015
- Controversial Countess, The/Petals In The Storm - 1989/1993
- Dancing On The Wind - 1994
- Dangerous Gifts - 1998
- Dearly Beloved - 1990
- Demon Dancer, The - 2010
- Devil's Spawn, The - 1995
- Diabolical Baron, The - 1987
- Distant Magic, A - 2007
- Dragon's Tale, A - 2005
- Dragon And The Dark, The - 2007
- Holiday Fling, A - 2002
- In The Bleak Midwinter - 2015
- Kiss Of Fate, A - 2004
- Lady Of Fortune - 1988
- Love Is Strange - 2011
- Loving A Lost Lord - 2009
- Mad, Bad And Dangerous to Know - 1993
- Marriage Spell, The - 2006
- Never Less Than A Lady - 2010
- No Longer A Gentleman - 2012
- Not Always A Saint - 2015
- Not Quite A Wife - 2014
- Nowhere Near Respectable - 2011
- Once A Laird - 2021
- Once A Rebel - 2017
- Once A Scoundrel - 2018
- Once A Soldier - 2016
- Once A Spy - 2019
- Once Dishonored - 2020
- One Perfect Rose - 1997
- One Wicked Winter Night - 2019
- Rake And The Reformer, The / Rake, The - 1989/1998
- River Of Fire - 1996
- Rogue And The Runaway, The / Angel Rogue - 1990/1995
- Shattered Rainbows - 1996
- She Stoops To Wenchdom - 2012
- Silk And Secrets - 1992
- Silk And Shadows - 1991
- Sometimes A Rogue - 2013
- Spiral Path, The / Phoenix Falling - 2002
- Stargazer's Familiar, The - 2005
- Stolen Magic - 2005
- Sunshine For Christmas - 1990
- Thunder And Roses - 1993
- Tuesday Enchantress, The - 2009
- Twist Of Fate / Imperfect Process, An - 2003
- Uncommon Vows - 1991
- Veils Of Silk - 1992
- Wedding Of The Century, The - 1994
- When Strangers Meet - 2023
- White Rose Of Scotland - 2010
- Wild Child, The - 1999
- Would-Be Widow, The / Bargain, The - 1988/1999
Series/Related Titles
Bride Trilogy
Circle Of Friends'
- The Burning Point / Stirring The Embers
- The Spiral Path / Phoenix Falling
- Twist Of Fate / An Imperfect Process
- 3.5 A Holiday Fling
Davenports
Fallen Angels
- Thunder And Roses
- Petals In The Storm
- Dancing On The Wind
- Angel Rogue
- Shattered Rainbows
- River Of Fire
- One Perfect Rose
Guardians
The Lost Lords
- Loving A Lost Lord
- Never Less Than A Lady
- Nowhere Near Respectable
- No Longer A Gentleman
- Sometimes A Rogue
- Not Quite A Wife
- Not Always A Saint
Regency Trilogy
- The Would-Be Widow / The Bargain
- The Controversial Countess / Petals In The Storm
- The Rogue And The Runaway / Angel Rogue
Rogues Redeemed
- 1. Once A Soldier
- 2. Once A Rebel
- 3. Once A Scoundrel
- 4. Once A Spy
- 5. Once Dishonored
- 6. Once A Laird
The Silk Trilogy
Starting Over
- The Burning Point / Stirring The Embers
- The Spiral Path / Phoenix Falling
- Twist Of Fate / An Imperfect Process
Awards
- 2012 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Historical Romantic Adventure, No Longer A Gentleman
- 2009 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - K.I.S.S (Knight In Shining Silver) Hero, Loving A Lost Lord
- 2002 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Most Tortured Hero, The Spiral Path / Phoenix Falling
- 2002 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Regency Romance, The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 2002 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Around Romance, The Spiral Path / Phoenix Falling
- 2002 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, The Spiral Path / Phoenix Falling
- 2001 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Regency Romance, The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 2000 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Historical Paranormal, A Kiss Of Fate
- 2000 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Regency Romance, The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 1999 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Historical Single Title Romance, The Wild Child
- 1999 RT reviewers Choice Award Winner - Regency Historical Romance, The Wild Child
- 1998 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Regency Romance, One Perfect Rose
- 1997 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Cabin/Road Romance, One Perfect Rose
- 1997 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Most Hanky Read, One Perfect Rose
- 1997 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Around Romance, One Perfect Rose
- 1997 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Historical Single Title Romance, One Perfect Rose
- 1997 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Regency Romance, The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 1997 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Historical Romance, River Of Fire
- 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Regency Romance, The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Regency Romance, River Of Fire
- 1995 RITA Award Winner - Long Historical Romance, Dancing On The Wind
- 1993 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Historical Romance Sequel, Silk And Secrets
- 1990 RITA Award Winner - Regency Romance, The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 1989 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Regency Novel, The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
Recognitions
- 2021 Vivian Award Finalist - Historical Romance: Long, Once A Spy
- 2020 Library Journal Starred Review, Once Dishonored
- 2019 Library Journal Best Books - Romance, Once A Spy
- 2018 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances, The Rake And The Reforme / The Rake
- 2016 Library Journal Starred Review, Once A Soldier
- 2016 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Once A Soldier
- 2015 Library Journal Starred Review, In The Bleak Midwinter
- 2015 Library Journal Starred Review, Not Always A Saint
- 2015 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Not Always A Saint
- 2014 Library Journal Starred Review, Not Quite A Wife
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#54), The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 2013 Booklist Starred Review, Sometimes A Rogue
- 2013 Library Journal Starred Review, Sometimes A Rogue
- 2013 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Sometimes A Rogue
- 2012 Library Journal Starred Review, No Longer A Gentleman
- 2012 Publishers Weekly Starred Review, No Longer A Gentleman
- 2012 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, No Longer A Gentleman
- 2011 Library Journal Starred Review, Nowhere Near Respectable
- 2011 Publishers Weekly Starred Review, Nowhere Near Respectable
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#68), The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#88), Thunder And Roses
- 2010 Library Journal Starred Review, Never Less Than A Lady
- 2007 All about Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#73), One Perfect Rose
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#91), The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#74), Shattered Rainbows
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#58), Thunder And Roses
- 2007 RITA Award Finalist - Long Historical Romance, The Marriage Spell
- 2004 All about Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#96), The Rogue And The Runaway / Angel Rogue
- 2004 All about Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#98), Dancing On The Wind
- 2004 All about Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#56), One Perfect Rose
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#75), The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#44), Shattered Rainbows
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#42), Silk And Shadows
- 2000 All about Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#91), The Rogue And The Runaway / Angel Rogue
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#45), Thunder And Roses
- 2000 All about Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#84), Dancing On The Wind
- 2000 All about Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#14), One Perfect Rose
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#15), The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#9), Shattered Rainbows
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#18), Thunder And Roses
- 2000 RITA Award Finalist - Long Historical Romance, The Wild Child
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#84), Dancing On The Wind
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#56), One Perfect Rose
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#22), The Rake And The Reformer / The Rake
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#83), Shattered Rainbows
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#22), Thunder And Roses
- 1998 RITA Award Finalist - Long Historical Romance, One Perfect Rose
- 1997 RITA Award Finalist - Long Historical Romance, Shattered Rainbows
- 1994 RITA Award Finalist - Historical Single Title Romance, Thunder And Roses
- 1993 RITA Award Finalist - Single Title Historical Romance, Veils Of Silk
- 1991 RITA Award Finalist - Regency Romance, The Rogue And The Runaway / Angel Rogue
- 1988 Golden Medallion Finalist - Regency Romance, The Diabolical Baron
Awards (body of work)
- 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award - Romance Writers of America
- 1997 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - Historical Romance
- 1996 RRA Awards Winner - Best Historical Romance Author
- 1989-1990 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - Regency Historical Romance
- 1987-1988 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - New Regency Romance