Mary Jo Putney

Mary Jo Putney is a highly accomplished author, born in Upstate New York and known for her addiction to reading, which she has had since childhood. She graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in eighteenth-century literature and industrial design. Putney is a prolific writer, having published twenty-six novels, mainly in the contemporary and historical romance genres. She has also written fantasy, romance, and adult fiction novels under the pen name M.J. Putney.

Putney's work is known for its exploration of serious subject matter, including domestic abuse, alcoholism, and death. Her writing has earned her numerous awards, including consecutive Golden Leaf awards for Best Historical Romance, two Romance Writers of America RITA awards, and several accolades from online reader sites. Putney's career as a novelist began almost accidentally when she acquired a computer for other purposes and discovered that it was the ultimate writing tool. She quickly became a full-time writer and has since published twenty-nine books and counting.

Putney's work has achieved significant commercial success, making the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She has also received critical acclaim, with five of her books named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal and two books chosen as one of the Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association. She has been a finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA award nine times, winning twice for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer. Putney has also been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance.

Putney's career as a novelist has allowed her to pursue her passion for writing full-time and has brought her significant success and acclaim. She is known for her psychological depth and unusual subject matter, as well as her ability to write engaging and compelling stories. Putney's work has had a significant impact on the romance genre and continues to be popular with readers and critics alike.