Jayne Ann Krentz

The author of a string of New York Times bestsellers, Jayne Ann Krentz uses three different pen names for each of her three “worlds.” As Jayne Ann Krentz (her married name) she writes contemporary romantic-suspense. She uses Amanda Quick for her novels of historical romantic-suspense. Jayne Castle (her birth name) is reserved these days for her stories of futuristic/paranormal romantic-suspense.

“I am often asked why I use a variety of pen names,” she says. “The answer is that this way readers always know which of my three worlds they will be entering when they pick up one of my books.”

In addition to her fiction writing, she is the editor of, and a contributor to, a non-fiction essay collection, Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press. Her commitment to her chosen genre has been strong from the very beginning of her career.

“The romance genre is the only genre where readers are guaranteed novels that place the heroine at the heart of the story,” Jayne says. “These are books that celebrate women’s heroic virtues and values: courage, honor, determination and a belief in the healing power of love.”

She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.

She is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

On the Web

• Website [1]
• Wikipedia [2]

See Also

• Jayne Bentley
• Jayne Castle
• Amanda Glass
• Stephanie James
• Amanda Quick
• Jayne Taylor

Awards

• 2014 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Romantic Suspense, River Road
• 2004 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Romantic Intrigue, Falling Awake
• 1995 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Contemporary Romance, Trust Me
• 1991 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Romantic Suspense, Silver Linings
• 1988 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Romantic Adventure, Gift Of Fire

Recognitions

• 2024 Booklist Starred Review, The Night Island
• 2022 Booklist Starred Review, Lightning In A Mirror
• 2021 Booklist Starred Review, All The Colors Of Night
• 2020 Booklist Starred Review, The Vanishing
• 2020 Kirkus Reviews Starred Review, The Vanishing
• 2020 Library Journal Starred Review, The Vanishing
• 2019 Booklist Starred Review, Untouchable
• 2019 Kirkus Reviews Starred Review, Untouchable
• 2018 Booklist Starred Review, Promise Not To Tell
• 2018 Library Journal Best Books - Romance, Promise Not To Tell
• 2018 LibraryReads Starred Review, Promise Not To Tell
• 2018 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Promise Not To Tell
• 2017 Library Journal Starred Review, When All The Girls Have Gone
• 2016 Booklist Starred Review, When All The Girls Have Gone
• 2016 LibraryReads Starred Review, When All The Girls Have Gone
• 2016 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, When All The Girls Have Gone
• 2015 Booklist Starred Review, Secret Sisters
• 2015 Booklist Starred Review, Trust No One
• 2015 Kirkus Reviews Starred Review, Trust No One
• 2015 Library Journal Starred Review, Secret Sisters
• 2015 Publishers Weekly Starred Review, Secret Sisters
• 2015 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Secret Sisters
• 2015 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Trust No One
• 2014 Booklist Starred Review, River Road
• 2014 Library Journal Starred Review, River Road
• 2013 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Dream Eyes
• 2012 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Copper Beach
• 2004 All About Romance Reader Award - Top 100 Romances (#97), Trust Me
• 1998 All About Romance Reader Award - Top 100 Romances (#56), Grand Passion
• 1998 All About Romance Reader Award - Top 100 Romances (#46), Perfect Partners
• 1998 All About Romance Reader Award - Top 100 Romances (#46), Trust Me
• 1998 All About Romance Reader Award - Top 100 Romances (#56), Wildest Hearts
• 1991 RITA Award Finalist - Short Contemporary Romance, The Pirate

Awards (body of work)

• 1995 Lifetime Achievement Award - Romance Writers of America
• 1992-93 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - Best All Around Historical Romance
• 1991-92 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - Contemporary Romance
• 1989-90 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - New Regency Historical Romance
• 1987-88 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - Series Romantic Fantasy
• 1986-87 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - Contemporary Romantic Adventure

Recognitions (body of work)

• 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Nominee - Best All-Time Romance Author
• 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Nominee - Best All-Time Classic Romance Author
• 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Nominee - Best Contemporary Author
• 1994 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Nominee - Best All-Around Romance Author