Welcome to my Author’s page. You will find several things here. First, there is the "official" biography. Below that are a series of longer letters updating readers on what I am doing. Most of the information has to do with my writing, but I insert other details as well. Those letters start with the most recent and then go back in time. The first one, down at the bottom, describes how I began writing novels and expands on the official biography.
The page also has a link to Cut Scenes up above. Clicking there takes you to some scenes from my stories that were cut prior to publication. If I ever get around to formatting my photographs properly, I hope to have a link here for that too, so if you see one it means I finally figured out Photoshop.
The official, formal biography:
Madeline Hunter’s first romance was published in June, 2000. Since then she has seen twelve historical romances and one novella published, and her books have been translated into five languages. She is a four time RITA finalist, and won the long historical RITA in 2003 for her medieval romance Stealing Heaven. Eleven of her books have been on the USA Today bestseller list, and she has also had titles on the NYTimes extended list and the Waldenbooks paperback fiction list. She has received two starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times has awarded ten of her books 4 ½ stars. Madeline is a Ph.D. in Art History, and she teaches at the college level. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons.
The long, gabby, rambling series of updates:
December ’05
Greetings from the disaster zone. Fortunately I am not referring to my career or my life. I am only talking about my house. Men in tool belts are here daily as we renovate and do an addition.
I knew it would be intrusive. I knew getting ready would be a lot of work. I knew we would be cramped. I thought I was prepared for all of that, but I am still stunned by the disruption.
It all began with a very old kitchen badly in need of new everything. Now, I can just ignore things like that, but my husband can't. So after years of avoiding it, I gave in to his nagging (how is that for role reversals?) and agreed to have some work done, fully expecting it to be the autumn from hell.
Surprisingly, it went swimmingly. We found the only contractor in America who comes in, works right through, finishes on time, doesn't screw up, and gets out. Wow, I thought, that was easy. And I loved my kitchen. So, since it was so smooth and manageable, why not do something about the master bedroom where we have NO closet space, a toilet in need of replacement, and no bathtub?
The rest is history. I had to move out of that bedroom. All the clothes, all the stuff stashed away for twenty years, needed a new, temporary home—my office, as it turned out. And as long as we were biting the bullet on the bedroom, we might as well get rid of the old, dark, gloomy panelling in the family room, right? Only all my books were on shelves in front of that paneling. The t.v. was in that room. The cable access was too.
Do you want to hear about all the help I had from the gentlemen in the family? Of course not. You don't need to hear that, do you? You already know that story, I'll bet.
We are now reduced to the living room and dining room, squeezed among the towers of liquor boxes filled with all my books. It looks like a bootlegger’s warehouse. The good news is that I threw out an enormous amount of junk and gave away even more. Thank heavens for Goodwill and Freecycle (freecycle.org for anyone interested in giving away useable items to those who want them).
This weekend I will figure out where to wedge in the Christmas tree. I am going to love the house when we are done, I'm sure. It will all be worth it. Really.
I had the good sense to start all this AFTER I handed in my next book. It will be released at the very end of February and is titled Lady of Sin. For those of you familiar with my Seducer series, and especially The Romantic, this is Charlotte’s story. She is the youngest of the Duclaric siblings, and she meets her match in a man who knows her better than she knows herself. I have posted an excerpt if you want to take a taste of the story. The two lovers have a wonderful dynamic between them, one that is sexy and contentious and both vexing and fun.
This will be the last story set in that particular world, at least for a while. There are characters there who still call to me, but I wanted to begin something fresh. Therefore my next book, Rules of Seduction, will introduce a new set of characters and begin a new series.
I hope that you enjoy the holidays, however you celebrate them. We will be here at home, in our cozy, condensed living space. I'm thinking I'll drape all those liquor boxes in red and green ribbons.
Madeline
June ’05
It has been a busy year, with lots of traveling and lots of writing. The Romantic was published last November, and I am relieved to say that readers seemed to think I had done Julian Hampton justice. I will admit he was one of the hardest male characters to write because he was by nature reserved and quiet. I think I captured on paper the man that I knew in my head, but it was a challenge.
It was perhaps inevitable that I would turn next to a character who not only was not quiet, but who also had displayed a knack for being tactless and colorful. That was Ewan McLean, Dante’s friend from The Sinner—the one with a looking glass suspended over his bed. You can meet him again in Lord of Sin, his story, which was just published this May.
This novel is special to me for several reasons. First, I enjoyed writing about Ewan. His personality took over the book, and the lighter tone could not have been avoided even if I had wanted to fight it, which I didn't. He was just a lot of fun to spend time with, and it was a pleasure to see him fall in love. He experiences a lot of growth, even if he kicks and moans every step of the way.
The story is special for another reason. Its background involves print collecting and printmaking, and that is my area of expertise in Art History. There were no photographs yet in the early 19th century, and so engravings and etchings and lithographs, made by hand, were used not only for original work as they are today, but also to reproduce famous paintings. I promise that I have not overdone the facts, so you won't get numbed by technical information! It was pretty cool to be able to write a story in which my two lives met, however.
I conducted some research for Lord of Sin while visiting London last spring. I was there for a couple of weeks on my own, and also took short trips to other sites outside the city. Bath was as interesting and elegant as all those Regency stories indicate. I finally saw Stonehenge, which I had missed on previous trips, and was surprised that it was smaller than I pictured in my head. I visited Stonehenge on a drizzly, overcast day, which somehow seemed appropriate. Other trips took me to Salisbury, Oxford, Warwick, and the Cotswolds.
Most of my time was in London, however. I think I could keep busy there forever. I spent my days in libraries and my evenings in museums. I have been there before, so on this trip I was able to fit in some places I have had to miss on shorter visits. I toured Apsley House, now a museum that shows how the Duke of Wellington lived. I strolled around Belgravia and I photographed Bedford Square, which is still much as it was in the early 19th century. I joined the weekend hordes on Portabello Road, nosing through antique stores. I also paid dearly for every cup of coffee I drank and every bite of food I ate, but London has always been expensive. With the weak dollar, however, the prices were brutal.
I am currently finishing up my next novel, which is due to be published next March. Titled Lady of Sin, it is Charlotte’s story. Sparks flew between her and Nathaniel Knightridge, a secondary character in The Romantic. Those sparks ignite passion in this book when Nathaniel begins investigating a mystery that strikes too close to home for Charlotte’s comfort.
I am looking forward to a summer of writing, and also to a summer of family activities. Graduations, weddings—the calendar is already very full. I hope that yours is too, with fun things that make good memories.
Madeline
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Spring, ’04
Well, it has been hectic since I last posted some news. My series was well received, I'm happy and relieved to say. All four books made the USAToday list (with THE SINNER hanging in there for four weeks), and THE SEDUCER, THE SAINT, and THE SINNER also logged in on the New York Times extended list. Publishers Weekly reviewed all of them, and THE CHARMER received a starred review and an interview appeared alongside it. Romantic Times gave enthusiastic reviews to all of them.
The most recent news is that THE SAINT is a RITA finalist in the long historical category this year. This is the award given by The Romance Writers of America, and it is an honor to have one’s fellow writers give the nod to a book through this competitive nomination process. I am delighted and flattered to have THE SAINT recognized.
In other writing news, my next book is at the publisher. The tentative title is THE ROMANTIC, and it is Julian Hampton’s story (see note below about book titles). It is a poignant story of a long, unrequited love finding fulfillment despite huge obstacles. The heroine is Penelope, Laclere’s sister. For years Julian has watched her grapple with unhappiness even while he has tried to protect her. Since so many readers have written to me expressing interest in Julian, I hope that I did him justice!
Completing this manuscript on time was a bit of a push because of the other things making life hectic. These were personal matters having to do with family health issues. As the saying goes, "life happens," and it sure happened since last summer. Family always comes first with me, but this was different, with some unfortunate news and surprises. Aside from the way this threw plans and schedules out the window, there was the stress and worry to deal with as well. It appears that things are looking up now, but I expect that these family concerns will continue to have a priority on my time and concentration in the near future.
I have begun the next story, and will report more as soon as I get the "go ahead" from my editor. It is related to the series, but an offshoot. It deals with a character who was in Dante Duclairc’s bachelor set. This looks like it will be a lighter book, and I am looking forward to writing it. I will go forward even as I wait for the word, since I am having fun with it.
For those who have been asking about Charlotte, I think she will be getting her own story. A guy showed up in Julian’s book with whom she exchanged a few barbs and sparks. She also came into her own in that book, with a supporting role that clarified her personality even more than in THE SINNER. So, we will see how the various ideas simmer in my head over the next few months.
I am taking a working vacation soon. "Vacation" because I will go far away; "working" because everything I do will relate to my two careers. I am heading for London to do research in the museums and libraries, but I will also take some excursions to Georgian and medieval sites in England. If my digital camera works (in other words, if I don't use it all wrong), I plan to post some photographs in a month or so.
Above I said my next book has a tentative title. Some readers may not realize that authors do not control the titles of their books. Although there may be exceptions for mega-stars, most authors’ contracts assign that decision to the publisher. Actually, everything having to do with the marketing and sale of a book is left to the publisher: title, cover, back cover blurb, etc. Some publishers allow the writer to make suggestions on these things but the final decisions are out of the writer’s hands.
Most of my titles have been changed prior to publication. In my case this is not a bad idea. The titles I give them often mean something if you have already read the books but don't work so well at grabbing potential readers who know nothing about the stories. My publisher is more experienced at choosing good "shelf titles" than I am. As for those back-cover blurbs—I can't even imagine how I'd write one that did what publishers want done! When it comes to writing those, I'm grateful it isn't my job.
Off the topic of books, and dealing with hobbies and vices—is anyone else an Ebay addict? Oh dear, what an expensive but fun way to relax. I'm not sure if I'm glad I ever visited that site or not. I go through periods when I buy too much, then have to cut myself off entirely for a spell. (I am currently in withdrawal.) Last year I discovered the artisan jewelry category that has all these yummy, one-of-a-kind, handmade bracelets and necklaces in the bolder designs I prefer. In March I used one of the artisan’s designs as my contest prize, and hope to again in the future. Check out their lovely work, but only if you are stronger than I am about that "bid" button.
My thanks to all the readers who get in touch to let me know their thoughts on my books. I appreciate every one of you. I recently updated my History page with info on everyday life in the early 19th century, and with a little explanation of my inspiration for Nesta in STEALING HEAVEN, so if you are curious about those topics, please drop by.
Madeline
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Spring, ‘03
It is hard to believe that it has only been three years since I wrote the introduction below. I am happy to say that the personal information is still correct. My sons are older now, and one stopped being a teenager two years ago. Our dog is still adorable, and the cat continues to train us to serve him.
The biggest surprises, wonderful ones, have been in my writing career. I was fortunate that my publisher brought out six of my novels in rapid succession, in just over two years. The support that I have received from readers and reviewers has been incredible, and I am grateful for every reader who takes the time to read one of my novels.
At the time I am writing this, my publications are in a lull of over a year. That is because my publisher is holding my next books, so they can be released in successive months, back-to-back. Since the books form a series, with connected characters, the decision was made to experiment with this unusual publication schedule. Introductions to the series can be found on my home page, and I hope that you will give one of these stories a try when they start appearing in October of 2003.
They are not medieval romances, as my previous novels were, but are set in the early 19th century. Although the first one is set in the Regency period, the others extend beyond that, into that post-Regency, pre-Victorian world of huge transitions in society and culture and politics. Artistically, this was the "Romantic" period, and in many ways the art and music of that period influenced my imagery and writing. Readers don’t need any background in the period to read the stories, however. Also, even though it is a connected series, each book stands on its own, and they do not have to be read in order.
Madeline
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June ’00
I am adding this introduction because that official biography doesn't really say much about my writing and me. It doesn't mention, for example, that I have also worked as a clerk in an office, as a telephone solicitor, and at the checkout counter of a grocery store. Those jobs taught me a lot, and were great opportunities to observe how people acted and interacted, which is so important for writers to notice.
It mentions my wonderful husband and two sons, but doesn't begin to describe how supportive they are, or how "mom and wife" responsibilities shape my days. There are afternoons when after-school activities mean that I am in the car for hours, dropping off and picking up the kids. When I finally get home on those days, I usually realize that I have nothing planned for dinner. I try to put the best face on it by gaily announcing that it is "free choice" night-in other words, everyone is on his own, and good luck. My youngest son still thinks that is wonderful, dear boy. The older gentlemen smile indulgently, but I can read their minds. Again? They rarely complain, however. If they do, I agree that the situation is deplorable and that, in my frank opinion, they should fire the chef.
Two other family members insist on being included in my biography. We share our home with a dog that is a chubby, adorable mutt. She is chubby because I can't resist her pitiful looks and sneak her scraps. In addition, a black cat condescends to live with us. He has, to put it politely, a distinctive personality. He has managed to make his prerogatives a dominant part of the rhythms of our household.
In my other life, I teach at a university. This has affected my writing in a couple of ways. The access to a good library is always welcome to a writer, especially one who sets her stories in an historical period. More importantly, the contact with students keeps me fresh and aware and energized, and blunts my tendency to on occasion think like an old fogy. Although I love writing novels, I also thoroughly enjoy teaching and cannot imagine doing one without the other.
My path to writing romance novels was a long one. I had written ever since I could read, and my earliest works were fictional. As an adult, however, I turned to nonfiction. I had some success writing articles for national magazines, and considered committing myself to a career doing that. I decided that I would not find it very satisfying, however, since my first love was fiction. Knowing that writers normally do not make much money, I figured that I might as well be poor doing what I wanted to do.
When my first son was born, I took a brief retirement of about five years and did not work outside the home. During that time I wrote two novels. The first was a mystery. Everyone says to write about what you know, and since a big experience in my life up to then had been attending graduate school, I set the novel in a university. It was poorly written, but I learned a lot about structuring scenes and developing a story line of novel length.
My next novel could best be described as a family saga. The fact that I do not know how to describe it says a lot. It was set at the turn-of-the-century, in the immigrant community of New York City. It included some stories and situations that I had learned from my parents and grandparents. I am Italian-American, and my characters were Italian.
I think that novel was well written. Its biggest problem was that it never really ended. Oh, it stopped, but that is not the same thing. I even tried to market it to some publishers. I received some very encouraging feedback, but no sale. Those rejection letters focused on the first thing that I mentioned-that it did not fit into a publishing niche. It had a strong romantic element, but was not really a romance, for example.
There was a long hiatus in writing fiction after that. I took my current job, and I had little time for it. I embarked on a long project researching and writing a book in my discipline. With my family responsibilities added on (my sons were young then), there was no such thing as free time.
When that book was completed and in press, I needed to decompress. At about the same time a good friend put a romance novel into my hands. It was an early work by Roberta Gellis. As soon as I began reading it, I was amazed. Here was a well-written novel with a story in it. There was this fast moving plot (and some great love scenes). A wonderful sense of history (and some great love scenes). Credible characters with complex emotions (did I mention that there were these love scenes. . . .). I found it very compelling.
I read more of Gellis's books, and then lots by other writers. I spent about two years reading romance novels old and new. One day a story of my own sneaked into my head and would not leave. I spent months playing with it, changing it, and developing it. It had been so long since I had drawn on that side of my brain that the experience was intoxicating. Finally, in an attempt to exorcise the story as much as anything else, I began writing it down.
At that point, I had no thoughts about selling a novel. However, after I had written about 100 pages I let my friend the romance reader have it. She encouraged me to finish.
That book was not BY ARRANGEMENT. It was Morvan's story, who is the brother of Christiana, the heroine in BY ARRANGEMENT. BY ARRANGEMENT was later written as a prequel to it. How that happened was a strange experience.
In that first novel, I gave Morvan a history that included a sister in London who had married a merchant. Midway through the story, Morvan and the heroine traveled to London and the reader met the sister and brother-in-law. I can still remember writing the scene where David de Abyndon, the merchant, first appeared. He entered fully alive, vivid, and cool as heck. He and Christiana proceeded to try to take over the book.
I wrote one scene between the two of them, and in their dialogue they referred to their own romance. I stopped after ten pages and knew that I could not include it, that it was a tangent. However, it was also a wonderful story that they spoke of. I made a deal with David. Wait until I finish this one, I said, and I will write one just for you.
That is what I did. I finished Morvan's story and then I turned to David and Christiana. I had no outline or synopsis, just a beginning and an end, and two characters who literally lived in my mind. The rest was magic.
I have learned that it isn’t always magic and that writers cannot wait for books to write themselves. Lots of days it is very hard work. I have also learned that the scenes that are frustrating and laborious are sometimes better than the ones that seem to write themselves. However, when an entire book almost writes itself—well, that book will have a special place in its author’s heart forever.
Madeline
