 Judith McNaught is a well known, well loved author of perhaps some of the most sought after romance novels of this generation. Those that read just one book often claim to be unable to stop reading until all have been devoured. Many find this writer's talents to be an ideal choice for the broken hearted or those seeking love, but they have much more to offer as well.
Judith McNaught has written more than a dozen books in the historical and contemporary romance genres. She has some 30 million copies of her books currently in print, and still counting. She takes credit for the creation of the Regency Historical romance subgenre. This genre is becoming more and more popular.
Like many successful writers, McNaught had a variety of careers before she achieved success in the writing field. Some of her previous jobs included assistant director for a film crew, assistant comptroller of a major trucking company, president of a temporary agency, and president of an executive search firm. In addition, she was the first female to become an executive producer of a CBS radio station. With that said, she strived for something new and different and perhaps always had a love for the world of literature. Having the talent to run major companies, she would still have many more obstacles to face to become the author that she is today.
She was working as an assistant director for a film crew that was working on a movie for General Motors at the time she met her second husband, Michael McNaught. He became her inspiration, encouraging her to write. This was a passion that she had put to the side to allow her to work and make a name and career for herself in the fields that she was already proven in. The process of writing would not be as easy as once thought, though. He provided support through all of her rejections over the years. Her first manuscript, Whitney, My Love, was rejected but after later publication of two successful novels, it was finally published in 1986. Getting her name out there would prove to be the key for all of her works.
In order to get her way into this highly competitive arena, she had to do something different to stand out. She crafted a method to do just that in the way that she wrote and presented the books that she wrote. Unlike most Regency novels, McNaught introduced the hero rather than the heroine in the beginning. This significant difference was essential to the reader and would later be a characteristic trait she was known for. What's more, there were other differences in her work and that of others. Where most Regency romances were only minimally sexual, her novels were highly sensual. This too helped to create a unique experience for the reader and one that was highly desirable as well.
During McNaught's early writing career, she was one of only a few authors with the historical romance genre. That changed by 1985 when over 50 new historical romances were published each month. Even though she was highly successful in the historical romance genre, she changed to contemporary romance in 1990 with hopes of being a distinguished writer in a field than was less saturated. She began to introduce suspense into her novels as her career matured. This would help to offer another twist on the common element and help her to stand out rather than blend in with the many other writers trying to get into the field.
Another "first" in her career is that of being the first romance author to receive a contract for hard cover publication. This would put her novels in a better position for review by major publishers. Her first time on the New York Best Seller List was in 1988, and that was just the beginning—all of her books thereafter made the New York Times Best Seller list. After her first placement on the New York Times Best Seller List, she asked her publisher to change all covers to more conservative covers.
McNaught also rewrote her manuscript Perfect to appeal to women who are functionally illiterate. This was in answer to a request from Coors Brewing to write a book that it could use to promote its women's literacy program. Upon doing research, she was appalled to discover how many women are functionally illiterate and chose to donate a portion of her earnings from the book to women's literacy programs. She also required that each book include information about how to donate to literacy programs or become a tutor. Other notable accomplishments include:
• Keynote speaker for Romance Writers of America Conference in 1996
• Selected in 1997 by Texas Women's Monthly as one of their four favorite authors, standing side by side with John Grisham, Patricia Cornwell, and Dean Koontz
• Recipient of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award
• Received Number One ranking on New York Times Best Seller List with her romantic suspense novel, Night Whispers.
Even though her first novel got a slow start, she has pressed forward with her career and managed to receive several awards.
• 1985 – Romantic Times Best New Historical for Whitney, My Love
• 1986 – Romantic Times Critic's Choice Award for Best SuperRomance
• 1987 – Affaire de Coeur Golden Pen Certificate for Once and Always
• 1987 - Affaire de Coeur Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Romance for once and Always
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