Janet Evanovich is a contemporary American mystery writer, best known for her "Stephanie Plum" series of detective novels. She is the author of 21 mystery books.
Early Days
Janet Evanovich was born and raised in South River, New Jersey, with periodic stints in LA with her aunt. She graduated from Rutgers' Douglass College of Art with thoughts of being a visual artist. The constrains of communicating her art to others and, she says, an allergy to pigment, caused her to turn to writing.
From Romance Novels to Mysteries
Her first efforts were, rather blue, short stories and after she piled up a box of rejection slips, Janet Evanovich went to work as a secretary. Two months into that gig, she got a call from an editor who wanted to publish one of her romance novels. Janet quit on the spot, bowled over by the $2000 advance. (This was the 1970s.) She wrote ten more romances before deciding to focus on mysteries.
Evanovich has written three mystery series, the most popular of which features lingerie buyer turned detective, Stephanie Plum. Her most recent book, Motor Mouth, released in October of 2006, is the second in a series of mysteries featuring Alexandra Barnaby and NASCAR driver Sam Hooker.
Life as a Writer
Janet Evanovich lives in New Hampshire with her husband Pete, daughter Alex, and son Peter. All three work in the family business: handling the writer, Janet Evanovich. Pete is her manager; Peter does the books; and Alex is responsible for her fun and stylish website and newsletter.
Asked how she gets motivated to write, Ms. Evanovich says that she simply spends the money before she earns it.
Bibliography
Stephanie Plum Series:
- One for the Road (1994)
- Two for the Dough (1996)
- Three to Get Deadly (1997)
- Four to Score (1998)
- High Five (1999)
- Hot Six (2000)
- Seven Up (2001)
- Hard Eight (2002)
- Visions of Sugar Plums (2003)
- To the Nines (2003)
- Ten Big Ones (2004)
- Eleven on Top (2005)
- Twelve Sharp (2006)
- Plum Lovin' (2007)
- Lean Mean Thirteen (2007)
- Plum Lucky (2008)
Metro Series:
- Metro Girl (2005)
- Motor Mouth (2006)
Full Series:(written with Charlotte Hughes)
- Full House
- Full Tilt
- Full Speed
- Full Blast
- Full Bloom
- Full Scoop
Romance Novels (originally published under the name of Stephie Hall)
- Hero at Large
- Foul Play
- The Grand Finale
- Thanksgiving
- Manhunt
- Love Overboard
- Back to the Bedroom
- Smitten
- Wife for Hire
- Rocky Road to Romance
- Naughty Neighbor
NonFiction
- How I Write (2006)
Related Articles and Links:
- Official Janet Evanovich Website
- Review of Twelve Sharp
- Review of Motor Mouth
- Review of Plum Lovin'
- Review of How I Write by Janet Evanovich
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