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Brockway claims to be a native of either Minnesota or New York. Neither has been confirmed. She also claims to be thirty-two. No one has even bothered looking into this. We do know she was attending graduate school at the University of Minnesota when she became involved with medical student, David Brockway. At some point they apparently legalized the relationship because when next she surfaces, she is sporting a new surname and a daughter. A decade of relative anonymity ensues– except for the infamous alien encounter photographs which have, of course, now been debunked. No substantiated records occur until 1994 when Brockway published her first book, PROMISE ME HEAVEN. Since then she has written over twenty full-length novels and anthology stories, bringing the current number of her books in print to over 1,500,000 published in thirteen countries. Brockway has twice received coveted Publishers Weekly starred reviews and unqualified recommendations from Library Journal, as well as two starred reviews from the Library Journals organ, BOOKLIST. Her 2004 title, MY SEDUCTION was named one of 2004s top ten romance by that same industry magazine. An eight time finalist for Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award, Brockway has twice been its recipient, first in 1998 for MY DEAREST ENEMY and in 2002 for THE BRIDAL SEASON. Her books regularly appear on national and regional bestseller lists and are frequent Doubleday/Literary Guild selections. Today Connie lives in Minnesota with her husband David, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts. Here she talks about giving a book to her granddaughter for Christmas.
Maria Dueñas holds a PhD in English Philology and is currently a professor at the University of Murcia. She has also taught at American universities, is the author of several academic articles, and has participated in various educational, cultural, and editorial projects. She is currently writing her second novel. Here she talks about the Spanish Christmas tradition that replaces Santa: The Three Kings.
Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 60 novels, with translations in 24 languages. Born and raised on the western edge of the beautiful Quabbin Reservoir in rural Massachusetts, Carla grew up with tales of her father’s life as a Dutch sailor and her mother’s childhood in northwest Florida. At a young age, Carla began penning her own stories on a branch high up in her favorite sugar maple. Now she enjoys spending time at the family homestead (now a tree farm) with her six brothers and sisters and their families. When she’s not writing, Carla loves to travel, hike, kayak, garden, and, of course, dive into a good book. She lives with her family in Vermont, near Quechee Gorge. Here, she talks about journeying through some of the cookbooks she plans on gifting this Holiday season.
Ken is a husband and father from the San Francisco Bay Area,where he works as a civil engineer. He’s the publisher and editor of GeekDad,the parenting blog for Wired magazine’s online presence,and publisher of the companion blog,GeekMom,where along with a group of other dedicated,geeky parents he posts projects,book and movie reviews,weekly podcasts,and more about being a parent and being a geek. Here he talks about his first forays into geekdom with THE HOBBIT.
Eva Stachniak was born and raised in Poland, but earned her degree at McGill University in Canada. She has taught at both University of Wroclaw in Poland, and Sheridan College in Montreal, Canada. Her latest book, THE WINTER PALACE, is her second novel. Here she talks about how she learned English by reading.
Katherine Anne Kindred is author of the recently published book AN ACCIDENTAL MOTHER. Here she talks about one of the first books she ever received as a gift --- one she still has!
SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY is the author of the Seasons of Sugarcreek Sisters of the Heart series. She lives with her family in southern Ohio, where she writes full time. Here she lends us some memories she has of reading out loud.
Robyn and her husband, Jim, make their home in Las Vegas. She makes the occasional foray into Humboldt County in nearby California, where the Virgin River series is set. She enjoys interacting with her readers via Facebook and her free Robyn Carr mobile phone app. Here she talks about giving the gift of books to US troops.
Denise Hamilton is a writer-journalist whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Cosmopolitan, and The New York Times and is the author of five acclaimed Eve Diamond crime novels, PRISONERS OF MEMORY, SAVAGE GARDEN, LAST LULLABY, SUGAR SKULL, and THE JASMINE TRADE, all of which have been Los Angeles Times bestsellers. She is also the editor of and a contributor to the short story anthology Los Angeles Noir, winner of the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association Award for Best Mystery of 2007. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young children. Here she talks about the Russian heritage that her mother tried to keep hidden, and the book that helped her family confront it.
