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Nora RobertsAmerican writer, author of contemporary romance and detective novels
Date of Birth: 10.10.1950
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Nora Roberts
- Marriage and Family
- Writing Career
- Success and Pseudonyms
- Writing Process and Genre
- Personal Life and Second Marriage
- Popular Works
- Legacy and Future Plans
Biography of Nora Roberts
Early Life and EducationEleanor Marie Robertson, known as Nora Roberts, was born on October 10, 1950, in Silver Spring, Maryland. She was the youngest of five children in a devoutly Catholic Irish-American family. Growing up in a family of avid readers, young Eleanor developed a love for reading and would often create her own stories. She attended a Catholic school, where she honed her writing skills and developed a strong sense of discipline and responsibility.
Marriage and Family
In her high school years, Eleanor met Ronald Offutt-Brink, and they soon became inseparable. Despite opposition from Eleanor's family, they got married in 1968, immediately after finishing school, and settled in Keedysville, Maryland. Ronald worked in the family metal sheet business and later in the lighting industry, while Eleanor worked from home, making ceramics and sewing clothes. They had two sons, Dan and James.
Writing Career
Eleanor's writing career began during a period of bad weather. Stuck at home with her sons for two weeks, she started to develop a story in her head and decided to write it down. This led to several manuscripts, which she submitted to various publishers for three years. Finally, in 1981, her first novel, "Irish Thoroughbred," was published under the pen name Nora Roberts. She had chosen this name by combining her first name and maiden name initials.
Success and Pseudonyms
The newly established publishing house "Silhouette" signed a contract with the aspiring writer, and Eleanor's childhood habit of hard work paid off. As of 2011, Nora Roberts' books, published under all her pseudonyms, spent a total of 861 weeks on 'The New York Times' bestseller list, with 176 weeks at the number one spot. Apart from Nora Roberts, the author also publishes books under the names J.D. Robb, Jill March, and Sarah Hardesty for the UK market.
Writing Process and Genre
Nora Roberts never waits for inspiration and never outlines her books. She starts with a key moment, an interesting character, or a chain of events that form the basis of the plot. From there, she develops the beginning of the story, adds details, and fully fleshes out the characters. After careful revisions and editing, the finished manuscript is sent to her literary agent, Emma Berkover. Roberts types her books directly on the computer, making edits as she goes. She works eight hours a day, Monday to Friday, often without taking vacations, but she considers her work a celebration of emotions and claims that starting a new book feels like falling in love for the first time. She never works on more than one book at a time but enjoys writing trilogies to prolong her time with the characters.
Personal Life and Second Marriage
Eleanor's first marriage ended in 1983 due to the strain of her newfound success. Shortly after, she met carpenter Bruce Wilder, who turned out to be a literature lover. They got married in 1985, and together they own a bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland, which Bruce built himself. They also own the Inn BoonsBoro, where the rooms are named after literary romantic characters.
Popular Works
Nora Roberts has written over 200 books, with constantly increasing sales. Her works cover various genres, including romance, mystery, and fantasy. Some of her popular series include the "In Death" series, written under the pseudonym J.D. Robb, featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas as the main character, and the "MacGregors" series, starting with the novel "Playing the Odds." She primarily publishes her books in paperback, emphasizing their accessibility and appeal to a wide audience.
Legacy and Future Plans
Nora Roberts' talent and dedication have made her one of the most successful and prolific authors of modern romance and mystery novels. She continues to write at least six books per year, and as of 2014, four new titles are already planned for publication. While opinions on the genre may vary, the popularity of Nora Roberts' work is a testament to the demand for these types of books, especially among female readers.
