Have we been properly introduced? No? Let’s remedy that situation now.

Alyssa Alexander loves the complexity of espionage and the wonder of romance. Combining these, she writes historical romantic suspense where love and danger go head to head. Her current manuscript, To Tempt A Smuggler, won first place in the historical category of the 2011 Gateway to the Best contest. Alyssa lives in Michigan with her wonderful husband, a rambunctious toddler, a short, fat Labrador and two not-so-brilliant cats.

Anne Barton won the 2011 Golden Heart for Regency Historical Romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband (who, sadly, is not a peer of the realm–but a great guy nonetheless) and her three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes when she quotes Jane Austen. Her weaknesses include reality TV, cute-but-impractical shoes, and caffeinated beverages of all kinds.  Anne’s debut, tentatively titled THE PROPER MISS’S GUIDE TO BAD BEHAVIOR, releases from Grand Central Forever in early 2013.

Valerie Bowman was a 2011 Golden Heart® finalist. She writes Regency-set historical romance novels with a focus on sharp dialogue, engaging story lines, and heroines who take matters into their own hands! Valerie has a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a minor in History from Smith College. Originally from Rantoul, Illinois, Valerie lives in Fleming Island, Florida with her two rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or watching crazy reality TV.  Valerie’s debut novel, SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT,  will be released by St. Martin’s Press on 9/25/12.

Tracy Brogan was a 2011 Golden Heart® finalist for her contemporary Novel with Romantic Elements, TOTALLY DODY. However, her grand passion was, is, and forever shall be Historical Fiction. She adores political intrigue, royals behaving badly, damsels causing distress, and yes, the occasional man in a kilt. She lives in Michigan where snow and gloom make it easy to stay inside at the computer from November through April. When not writing, or thinking about writing, she enjoys time with her ever-patient husband, their moderately well-behaved daughters, and their two very spoiled dogs.  Tracy speaks fluent sacrasm.

Darcy Burke lives at the edge of wine country in Oregon’s northern Willamette Valley. She was a 2008 Golden Heart® finalist in the Regency category and has finaled in several other contests. Darcy’s first release, HER WICKED WAYS, will be published in May 2012. When she’s not at her computer, she’s doting on her two children, being adored by her husband (lucky duchess!), and trying to wean herself off Cherry Coke (success!) and serial volunteering (uh, less success). Her most loyal subjects are three cats, Maura, and the aptly named Duke and Duchess. Darcy’s happy place is anywhere in the UK or Labor Day weekend at the Gorge with the Dave Matthews Band.

Lecia Cornwall lives in Calgary, Alberta, in the foothills of the beautiful Canadian Rockies. Orginally from Ontario, Lecia writes Regency historicals with plenty of lush sensuality and rich intrigue. Her first book, SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS, was published by Avon in 2011. Her second book, THE PRICE OF TEMPTATION, will be on store shelves and e-book lists in January 2012. For a holiday treat, there’s a Christmas e-novella, ALL THE PLEASURES OF THE SEASON, coming from Avon Impulse on December 20, 2011. Only a few more sleeps! Duchess Lecia’s loyal subjects include her husband/consort, a handsome son and heir, a lovely daughter to marry off (not just yet), four cats (footmen, perhaps? Or rather under foot) and her personal assistant, Kipper the chocolate lab.

Alison DeLaine lives in rural Arizona, where she tries to keep her hillbilly side under control (but often fails). When she’s not busy waiting on her spoiled pets or thinking up honey-dos for her husband, she is happily sending characters through the wringer. Alison is a two-time Golden Heart® finalist.

Eileen Emerson spent years getting a Master’s degree in costume design for the theatre, and then chucked it all to make her way in the world of Corporate America. She turned her creative focus to writing in 2010, and has been submitting her work to the contest circuit, with excellent results. Her first book was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist, and she hopes that trend continues.

Emily Greenwood, a Golden Heart finalist, writes playful Regency romances. Her first book, A LITTLE NIGHT MISCHIEF, will be released by Sourcebooks in 2013. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and a pair of uppity guinea pigs.

Rebecca Lamb is a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist. She lives in New York City, and, when she’s not writing, she loves attending plays, traveling (she’s road-tripped 43 states and visited all 7 continents), harassing her nieces and nephews and reading romance. She truly believes the Virgil quote inscribed on her wedding band: Amor vincit omnia, or love conquers all.

Leigh LaValle lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she is not writing, mommying or reading, she is rarely seen cleaning. More often she is found hiking or, when she is really lucky, in the white powder of the ski slopes. She is also a devoted yoga practitioner and instructor. Her debut novel, THE RUNAWAY COUNTESS, was a finalist in the 2011 Golden Heart® contest and will release March 6, 2012 with Samhain Publishing.

Gillian Layne is a 2010 Golden Heart® finalist.  She writes lively, sensual Regency romance filled with seductive scholars, strong-minded bluestockings, and a cast of secondary characters always demanding their own happily ever after.  Raised in the midst of a 19^th century national historic site,  she believes firelight kindles romance,  snuggling is cozier than central heat, and keyboards attract kittens! She loves chatting with visitors at her blog The Gentle Art of Conversation.

Emma Locke is a writer and engineer living in the Pacific Northwest, where she loves hiking with her dog, hot yoga and riding out the annual 330 days of rain. Hiking and yoga give her time to plot, the lack of sun makes for perfect writing weather, and as for her day job, the dichotomy seems to work: her analytic side ensures her passionate, satisfying love stories don’t mulch under her bed, and her author side forces her to keep writing more. You can Like Emma on Facebook or check out her books and appearances at www.emmalocke.com.

Ashlyn Macnamara lives in the suburbs outside Montreal with her husband and two teenaged daughters. To escape the sameness of her late 1970s-era neighborhood, she travels in her mind back to Regency England and Colonial North America. A few years ago, she decided to try her hand at actually writing down the stories that had been accumulating in her brain–or perhaps it was an excuse to listen to the voices in her head. When not writing, she finds other ways of neglecting the housework in the form of knitting, reading and wasting time on the Internet in the guise of doing research. Her Regency manuscript,  retitled A MOST SCANDALOUS PROPOSAL, was a finalist in the 2011 Golden Heart® contest and will be published by Bantam Books in early 2013.

Madeline Martin writes action packed Scottish historical romances that will leave you reading into the wee hours of the morning.  She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, two young girls and a menagerie of pets.  Her hobbies include rock climbing, running, Zumba and just about anything exciting she can do without getting nauseous.  Madeline is represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency.

Jennifer McQuiston lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her family. An infectious disease researcher by training, Jennifer has always preferred reading romance to scientific textbooks.  Jennifer was a 2011 and 2012 Golden Heart® finalist. Her debut novel, WHAT HAPPENS IN SCOTLAND, recently sold to Avon in a 3-book deal, with the first book out in early 2013. Jennifer is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Kate Parker lives in coastal Carolina when she’s not off visiting another country or century. A three time Golden Heart finalist, she’d rather write than clean house, research than cook, and revise than do laundry. When she leaves her desk, she enjoys swimming, long walks on the beach, or riding along the slow flowing rivers and empty country lanes of her home town.

Diana Quincy writes sexy, sophisticated historical romances which often unfold against the backdrop of real historical events. Her debut novel, Seducing Charlotte, will be available from Entangled Scandalous in Spring 2013. The second title in the series, Tempting Bella, releases in Fall 2013. When not hunched over her laptop or trying to keep up with laundry, Diana enjoys reading, spending time with Mr. Quincy and their two boys, and dreams of traveling much more than her current schedule (and budget) allows.

Sara Ramsey writes fun, feisty Regency historical romances. She won the 2009 Golden Heart award with her first book, and was a 2011 finalist with her second book. Before she started writing, Sara grew up in a small town in Iowa, and her obsession with fashion, shoes, and all things British is clearly a rebellion against her hopelessly uncool youth. She is currently living the hip Regency writer life in San Francisco, where she and her friends indulge in mojitos and malbecs instead of the insipid orgeats and lemonades that she forces her heroines to drink. Sara’s first two books, HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE and SCOTSMEN PREFER BLONDES, will be released on January 26, 2012.

Anna Randol writes sultry, adventurous Regency romances for Avon. When she’s not plotting sexy storylines, she’s usually eating chocolate,having wild dance parties with her kids in the living room, or remodeling her house one ill-planned project at a time. Her debut novel, A SECRET IN HER KISS,is set in the heart of the Ottoman Empire. It will be available from Avon on Jan. 31, 2012!

Sharon Wray is a librarian/archivist who designed custom wedding gowns until she gave it all up to write contemporary and historical romantic suspense. She’s a three-time Golden Heart finalist lucky enough to be married to a real life hero and repped by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency. When she’s not writing romance, she’s playing with her twins and keeping up with her photo essay blog www.faithhopeandpublication.com.

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