Melinda Leigh American writer Country: USA

Biography of Melinda Leigh

Melinda Leigh is an American writer who didn't immediately become a popular author, having worked as a professional financier and a skilled homemaker. Writing romantic thrillers became a way for Leigh to return to active work, and she had no idea of the success that awaited her books. Leigh has always loved reading, but she began writing herself at a relatively mature age when her youngest child started first grade. According to Leigh, literature became a literal salvation for her, helping her maintain her sanity. She used to be a successful financier, but later quit her job to become a homemaker and focus on taking care of her two children. However, as her children grew up, Leigh realized that her life was lacking in mysteries, adventures, and suspense.

Over the following years, it became clear that Leigh's books were not only beneficial to herself - they also enjoyed impressive success. She joined the ranks of the Romance Writers of America and acquired additional literary skills, solidifying her belief that writing books was much more interesting than dealing with dry financial calculations. This way, the world had one less banker and one more popular writer. Leigh's first book, the romantic thriller "She Can Run," was published in 2011 by Montlake Romance. The book achieved incredible success, quickly reaching the top spot in the Kindle romantic thriller rankings. It was even nominated for the 2012 International Thriller Award for Best First Novel. Although Leigh did not win the award, the nomination itself was a significant achievement.

"She Can Run" was just the first book in a series of novels launched by Melinda Leigh. Currently, the series consists of four books and one short story. "She Can Tell," "She Can Scream," and "She Can Hide" replicated the success of the first book, firmly establishing Leigh's reputation as a master of romantic thrillers. The latest book in the series, "She Can Hide," was released in March 2014. It is known that a short story titled "He Can Fall," related to the "She Can..." universe, is set to be published in April 2014.

Another successful series by Melinda Leigh is the "Midnight" series, which has already published two books with one more in progress. "Midnight Exposure" and "Midnight Sacrifice" were released in August 2012 and April 2013, respectively. The first book in the new series even made it to the finals of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Critics unanimously praised Melinda Leigh for her incredible skill and talent with words. The third book in the "Midnight" series, "Midnight Betrayal," is set to be released in September 2014.

Aside from her literary work, Melinda Leigh has a wide range of unusual interests. She excels in various martial arts, such as Kenpo Karate (for which she has a black belt), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and self-defense techniques. Currently, Leigh even teaches self-defense courses for women and proves herself to be an excellent teacher, just as she is a writer. Rumor has it that Leigh has not escaped being a homemaker, as her house is said to be in rare chaos, but with her husband, two teenage children, two dogs, and two cats, this is hardly surprising.

Melinda Leigh's seemingly ordinary suburban life does not explain the terrifying and disturbing fantasies that come to her mind. For someone less mentally resilient, such fantasies could drive them insane. However, Leigh found the perfect outlet for her talents - she pours the fruits of her eccentric imagination onto paper, creating intriguing and captivating literary works. Currently, Melinda Leigh is a member of several major literary societies and organizations, including the Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death, the International Thriller Writers, and the Liberty States Fiction Writers. Additionally, she collaborates with the online project "Attacking the Page: A Blog on Martial Arts & Writing Action." Alongside her writing career, Leigh continues to develop and refine her martial arts skills. Jill Marsal from the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency is currently Melinda Leigh's official representative and agent.