Patricia Maxwell Explained

Patricia Anne Ponder Maxwell
Pseudonym:Patricia Maxwell,
Elizabeth Trehearne (with Carol Albritton),
Patricia Ponder,
Maxine Patrick,
Jennifer Blake
Birth Name:Patricia Anne Ponder
Birth Date:March 9, 1942
Birth Place:Goldonna, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation:Novelist
Nationality:American
Period:1969 - present
Genre:Gothic, mystery, suspense, romance
Children:4

Patricia Maxwell (born Patricia Anne Ponder; March 9, 1942, near Goldonna, Louisiana), is an American writer. A member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and the Affaire de Coeur Romance Hall of Fame, Maxwell has received numerous awards for her writing.[1] Her first novel in the romance genre, Love's Wild Desire, became a New York Times Bestseller.[2]

Maxwell has published books under five different names. Using her real name, Patricia Maxwell, she wrote Gothic mystery-suspense romances. She wrote one book in collaboration with Carol Albritton that was published under the name Elizabeth Trehearne. Under her maiden name, Patricia Ponder, she wrote a murder mystery and a romantic suspense story. As Maxine Patrick, she wrote contemporary romances, and historical romances.[3] she wrote as Jennifer Blake. Many of her books are set in her native Louisiana.

Biography

Early years

Maxwell is a seventh generation Louisianan[4] of English, Irish, Welsh, Scots-German, French, and Indigenous descent.[5] She was born in a large farm house in Northern Louisiana.[6] Through her mother, who belonged to a mail order book club, Maxwell was introduced at an early age to adult mysteries, westerns, historical novels, and romances.[7] As a young teenager, she volunteered at the school library.

At age 15, Patricia Ponder married and took her husband's surname of Maxwell, becoming a housewife and mother. She began writing one morning when she was 21, attempting to describe a very vivid dream she'd had that was set in historical Scotland. She took a six-week correspondence course on writing and began practicing as much as she could.

Writing career

For the next seven years, Maxwell sold various poems, articles, and short stories before selling her first novel manuscript in 1970.

Maxwell's early works, published under her own name, were mystery suspense novels. In the mid-1970s, this type of novel became less popular. Maxwell suddenly had trouble selling new works. After two years of struggling to find another niche, Maxwell was asked to write a proposal for an emerging genre, historical romance. Her first novel in this genre, Love's Wild Desire, became a New York Times Bestseller under the pseudonym Jennifer Blake (so that fans of her previous work would not be confused).

Maxwell has been writing romance and historical novels as Jennifer Blake for over 30 years. The book is often set between 1830 and 1850 and take place in Louisiana.

Personal life

Maxwell writes for six hours a day, five days a week in her home office, usually completing one book each year. In her spare time, she enjoys collecting antiques, painting, and quilting. Because she is allergic to many chemicals, she and her husband maintain a small organic garden to cultivate their own produce. They also grow antique roses.

After selling her first novel manuscript in 1970, she spent her first check on a greenhouse.

Maxwell and her husband live in Northern Louisiana,[4] with a second home in Colorado. They have four children and several grandchildren.

Works

As Patricia Maxwell

Single novels

As Elizabeth Trehearne

Single Novel

As Patricia Ponder

Single novels

As Maxine Patrick

Single novels

As Jennifer Blake

Single novels

Royal Family of Ruthenia series

  1. Royal Seduction, 1983
  2. Royal Passion, 1985

Louisiana's Gentlemen Benedict series

  1. Kane, 1998
  2. Luke, 1999
  3. Roan, 2000
  4. Clay, 2001
  5. "Adam" in With a Southern Touch, 2002
  6. Wade, 2002

Masters at Arms series

  1. Challenge to Honor, 2005
  2. Dawn Encounter, 2006
  3. Rogue's Salute, 2007
  4. Guarded Heart, 2008
  5. Gallant Match, 2009

Anthologies in collaboration

Awards

See also

References and sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Del Guercio . Gerardo . 2007 . The Life and Times of Patricia Maxwell . 2024-01-24 . Cercles.
  2. Web site: Awards . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070106144508/http://www.jenniferblake.com/awards.cfm . 2007-01-06 . 2007-02-06 . Jennifer Blake Official Website.
  3. Web site: About Jennifer's Pseudonyms . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060529154951/http://www.jenniferblake.com/biography1.cfm . May 29, 2006 . 2007-02-06 . Jennifer Blake Official website.
  4. Web site: About Jennifer Blake . Jennifer Blake Official website . 2007-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061026103035/http://www.jenniferblake.com/biography.cfm . 2006-10-26.
  5. Web site: W. . Isolde . Interview with Jennifer Blake . Die Buecherecke Romantische . 2007-02-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060425102433/http://www.die-buecherecke.de/blake2.HTM . April 25, 2006 .
  6. Web site: Jennifer Blake Author Spotlight . 2007-02-06 . Random House .
  7. Web site: Jennifer Blake Frequently Asked Questions. Jennifer Blake Official website. 2007-02-06. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070107195302/http://www.jenniferblake.com/faq.cfm. 2007-01-07.

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