Brenda Hiatt is an American, ''
New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' and ''
USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
''
bestselling author of romantic adventure novels, including traditional Regency romance, time travel romance, historical novels, contemporary humorous mystery, and most recently young adult science fiction romance. She has authored and published over 20 such novels in a writing career that started in 1988.
Biography
Born in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, Hiatt graduated from the
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III a ...
, in
Williamsburg, VA
Williamsburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg is in the northern part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It is bo ...
, with degrees in biology and psychology in 1978, before attending graduate school at
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, or TAMU) is a public, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. As of late 2021, T ...
1979–81. She has since lived in Hawaii, South Carolina, Texas, Indiana and now Key Largo, FL. She is married and has two children.
Early career
On starting her career, Hiatt declared, "I began writing in 1988, an army wife at home with two preschool children. I promised myself that, if nothing sold before my youngest began school, I'd get a 'real job,' so I was thrilled to sell a Regency romance novel to Harlequin six months ahead of that deadline."
Writing career
To date, Hiatt's published novels include six
Harlequin
Harlequin (; it, Arlecchino ; lmo, Arlechin, Bergamasque dialect, Bergamasque pronunciation ) is the best-known of the ''zanni'' or comic servant characters from the Italian language, Italian ''commedia dell'arte'', associated with the city o ...
Regency Romances, one Harlequin Superromance, two single title
historical romances
Historical romance is a broad category of mass-market fiction focusing on romantic relationships in historical periods, which Walter Scott helped popularize in the early 19th century.
Varieties Viking
These books feature Vikings during the Da ...
with
HarperCollins
HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Cor ...
, six historical romances with
Avon Books, and a
self-published six book young adult science fiction romance series. Hiatt's first single title historical romance, ''Scandalous Virtue'', was named Best Romance Novel of 1999 by the American Book Readers Association and, like many of her books, is of the
Regency Romance
Regency romances are a subgenre of romance novels set during the period of the British Regency (1811–1820) or early 19th century. Rather than simply being versions of contemporary romance stories transported to a historical setting, Regency rom ...
genre. Her one
time travel romance, ''Bridge Over Time'', presents an unusual spin in the
time travel genre as it features two heroines who trade places in time and gives equal time to both. Her works include a six book
Regency Historical Romance series featuring "the Saint of Seven Dials," a series of successive
rogue heroes who victimize the rich to help impoverished residents in London's notorious
Seven Dials slum.
In September 2013, she released '' Starstruck'', her first
teen science fiction theme
The following is a list of articles about recurring theme (narrative), themes in science fiction.
Overarching themes
*First contact (science fiction), First contact with aliens
*Artificial intelligence in fiction, Artificial intelligence
**Mac ...
d novel that is the first of a four-book series. The second book in the series, Starcrossed, was released in late January 2014. Book 3 in the series, ''Starbound'', was released in June 2014 with Book 4, ''Starfall'', released in February 2015 as the conclusion to the series. Successful sales of the series and demand from readers for more of it promptedher to release ''Fractured Jewel, A Starstruck Novella'' in July 2016. In June 2017 Hiatt released ''The Girl From Mars'' featuring a new heroine who despises and challenges the longstanding heroine, Marsha. In October 2018 she released another Starstruck novel, ''The Handmaid's Secret,'' focusing on Marsha's close friend Molly. Brenda has indicated that she plans more books in the Starstruck series.
''Starstruck'' has won numerous awards including first place in the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, first place in the I Heart Indie Contest, first place Book Buyers Best Contest, first place in the International Digital Awards, and second place in the Ancient City Romance Authors Readers Choice Award in the young adult category for each contest. In March 2015 Hiatt released ''Rigel's Jewel'', an
eShort retelling the first few chapters of ''Starstruck'' from the hero's perspective and made available for free to subscribers to her newsletter.
In January 2014, Hiatt was one of four authors of ''Scandalous Brides'', an ebook "box set" compilation of four full length Regency Romance novels, with Hiatt's earlier published work, ''Scandalous Virtue'', being her contribution. ''Scandalous Brides'' premiered at #12 on the ''USA Today'' bestsellers list. It then also reached #4 on ''the New York Times'' combined fiction print and ebook sales bestseller list.
In April 2015, Hiatt released her first three published books, ''Gabriella'', ''The Cygnet'' and ''Lord Dearborn's Destiny'', as an ebook compilation entitled ''Hiatt Regency Classics 1, 2 & 3''. On April 23, 2015 the ebook reached #133 on the ''USA Today'' Bestsellers List. This compilation was followed in December 2015 with ''Hiatt Regency Classics 4, 5, & 6'' consisting of ''Daring Deception'', ''Christmas Bride'' and ''Azalea''.
In February 2016, Hiatt returned to her ''Saint of Seven Seven Dials'' books, after a thirteen-year hiatus in the series, with the publication of ''Gallant Scoundrel''.
Starting in 2017 Hiatt has released German and Italian translations of many of her books, which have enjoyed significant success in those countries.
An active member of
Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America (RWA) is an American non-profit writers' association founded in 1980. Its mission is to "advance the professional and common business interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy and by incr ...
since 1990, Hiatt has also served as President of Novelists, Inc, an international organization of over 800 multi-published novelists. Hiatt is well known within the industry for her annual "Show Me the Money" survey of writers' earnings, the results of which she frequently presents at speaking events and on her website. She also teaches an online writing seminar.
Philanthropy
Hiatt has been an active member of the
Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America (RWA) is an American non-profit writers' association founded in 1980. Its mission is to "advance the professional and common business interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy and by incr ...
, a national non-profit genre writers association that provides networking and support to individuals seriously pursuing a career in romance fiction, since 1990. She participates every year in the organization's Readers for Life Literacy Autographing, which has raised more than $300,000 for adult literacy.
Awards and honors
In 1999, Hiatt won the American Book Readers Association Award for best romance novel for the book ''Scandalous Virtue''.
Titles
* ''The Handmaid's Secret,'' the seventh story in the Starstruck Series – Dolphin Star Press, October 2018.
* ''The Girl From Mars,'' the sixth story in the Starstruck Series – Dolphin Star Press, June 2017.
* ''Christmas Promises,'' a prequel to ''A Christmas Bride'' – Dolphin Star Press, December 2016.
* ''Fractured Jewel, A Starstruck Novella'' – Dolphin Star Press, July 2016.
* ''Gallant Scoundrel'' – Dolphin Star Press, February, 2016.
* ''Hiatt Regency Classics 4, 5, & 6'' – Dolphin Star Press, December, 2015
* ''Hiatt Regency Classics 1, 2 & 3'' – Dolphin Star Press, April, 2015
* ''Starfall'' – Dolphin Star Press, February, 2015
* ''Regency Masquerades''−Dolphin Star Press, October 2014
* ''Starbound'' – Dolphin Star Press, June 2014
* ''Starcrossed'' – Dolphin Star Press, January 2014
* ''Scandalous Brides'' – Sprigleaf, January 2014
* ''Starstruck'' – Dolphin Star Press, September, 2013
* ''Out of Her Depth'' – Bell Bridge Books, March 2013
*''The Runaway Heiress'' – Avon, June 2005
*''Taming Tessa'' (later independently published as ''Tessa's Touch'') – Avon, September 2004
*''Wickedly Yours'' (later independently published as ''Saintly Sins'') – Avon, November 2003
*''Innocent Passions'' – Avon, February 2003
*''A Rebellious Bride'' (later independently published as ''Noble Deceptions'') – Avon, April 2002
*''Rogue's Honor'' – Avon, July 2001
*''Ship Of Dreams'' – HarperCollins, April 2000
*''Scandalous Virtue'' – HarperCollins, June 1999
*''Azalea'' – Harlequin "Regency Diamonds," August 1994
*''Bridge Over Time'' – Harlequin Superromance, April 1994
*''A Christmas Bride'' – Harlequin Regency, December 1993
*''Daring Deception'' – Harlequin Regency, July 1993
*''Lord Dearborn's Destiny'' – Harlequin Regency, February 1993
*''The Ugly Duckling''(later independently published as ''The Cygnet'')—Harlequin Regency, September 1992
*''Gabriella'' – Harlequin Regency, March 1992
References
External links
Brenda Hiatt's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hiatt, Brenda
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
20th-century American novelists
21st-century American novelists
American romantic fiction writers
College of William & Mary alumni
Texas A&M University alumni
People from Virginia
Novelists from Indiana
American women novelists
Women romantic fiction writers
21st-century American women writers