Nora Roberts – From Blizzard to Author
Nora Roberts is an American novelist specializing in romance and psychological thrillers.
Roberts was the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. As of 2011, her novels had spent a combined 861 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list, including 176 weeks in the number-one spot.
The early days of Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts (Eleanor Marie Robertson) was born in Silver Springs, Maryland on 10 October 2022. She was the youngest daughter of five children (the only girl) and was born into a family of readers. Both her parents stem from an Irish background, and she describes herself as “an Irishwoman through and through”.
She spent much of her time as a child reading and making up stories. Many good stories that her mother still believes to be true. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald Aufdem-Brinke just after graduation in 1968 and settled in Keedysville, Maryland.
Roberts spent a brief time of her career working as a legal secretary. She stated: “I could type fast but couldn’t spell” – when describing this time of her life.
After her sons were born (Jason & Dan), she became a homemaker and spent a lot of time doing crafts.
When did Nora Roberts begin writing?
Her writing career officially kicked off in February 1979 during a blizzard. Snowed in with her children, Roberts decided to try her hand at creative writing. She began with a childhood story she had imagined and produced a pool of manuscripts, later involved in a plagiarism scandal. After submitting her manuscripts to Harlequin, the leading publisher of romance novels, Janet Dailey confessed to stealing some of her works shown to the publishers.
Roberts published her first book, Irish Thoroughbred in 1981. It was printed by Silhouette books and Roberts went on to produce 23 more novels between 1982 and 1984.
Who is J. D. Robb?
After changing publishers and moving to Putnam in 1992, the publishing company quickly realised that they were unable to keep up with Roberts’s rapid output. They suggested that she adopt a second pseudonym (the first being Nora Roberts) in order for them to publish more of her books each year.
AS J. D. Robb, Roberts published her first romantic suspense novel in 1995. The initials “J. D.” were taken from her sons, Jason and Dan, while “Robb” is a shortened form of Roberts.
These suspense novels were a series of futuristic science fiction police procedurals which feature NYPSD detective Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke. They are set in mid-21st century New York City. The overall theme of the series is the development of the relationship between Eve and Roarke.
After publishing 18 novels in the in Death series, Putnam published the nineteenth, Divided in Death, in 2004 which became Roberts’ first bestselling novel of 2004.
As of March 2022, Roberts has published 54 novels plus ten novellas in the in Death series.
How does Nora Roberts compile her writing?
Roberts spends eight hours of her day writing even while on vacation. She starts with a key incident, character or setting and writes a short first draft which outlines the basic elements of the story.
Her second revision includes the addition of detail before the final pass to polish the novel.
She often writes trilogies, all in a row, to ensure she remains with the same character until completion.
Roberts does most of her research over the Internet, as she has an aversion to flying.
Current Nora Roberts Books featured on Bakgat Books:
Current J. D. Robb books featured on Bakgat Books:
