Carla Kelly
Encyclopedia
Carla Kelly, or Carla Sue Kelly (born 1947) is a popular and acclaimed writer in the Regency romance
genre. She is the author of over forty books and short stories. Her books are "keepers" and accordingly hard to find. Renowned for what she calls "dukeless" regencies, her stories often revolve around ordinary people solving their own problems. However, her regencies only reflect a part of her writing interests. She has a strong interest in the American West which is reflected in her earliest published works and in her non-fiction.
in Provo, Utah where she studied history. She then went on to complete a Masters in the same subject focussing on U.S. military history.
In her varied professional career Ms Kelly has been a ranger/historian with the National Park Service at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, a contract research historian for the State Historical Society of North Dakota and has taught history at university level. Ms Kelly is a former staff features writer for the Valley City Times Record newspaper based in Valley City, North Dakota.
Ms Kelly lives in Wellington, Utah. She is married to Martin Kelly, former Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota, and now retired. They have five grown children now located in various parts of America.
In her author profile on the e-Harlequin site, Ms Kelly says her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly
, John Harvey
and Peter Robinson
.
(1803-1815). A major theme in her books is how war touches the lives of ordinary people. In surviving the effects of war and in helping other survivors her characters find in themselves qualities of strength and purpose not previously evident. They are quiet achievers influencing the world on small, personal stages, making a difference in their own lives and others ultimately by acts of kindness rather than daring. Ms Kelly goes against the norms of the genre by focusiing her attention not on the glittering world of London society and the social elite, but on the other 99.9% of the population occupying England. Her stories are distinguished by authentic, well-researched detail and lightened by a ready sense of humour.
Ms Kelly has also written an acclaimed series of short stories about the men, women and children of Fort Laramie during the Indian Wars era of American history. In 2003 her entire collection of Indian War stories was re-published in Here's to the Ladies: Stories from the Frontier Army. Two of these stories A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter were awarded Spur Award
s from the Western Writers of America
.
"Coming Home for Christmas," Harlequin Historical, November 2011
"Enduring Light" (Cedar Fort, Inc.), January 2012
Regency romance
Regency romances are a subgenre of romance novels set during the period of the British Regency or early 19th century. Rather than simply being versions of contemporary romance stories transported to a historical setting, Regency romances are a distinct genre with their own plot and stylistic...
genre. She is the author of over forty books and short stories. Her books are "keepers" and accordingly hard to find. Renowned for what she calls "dukeless" regencies, her stories often revolve around ordinary people solving their own problems. However, her regencies only reflect a part of her writing interests. She has a strong interest in the American West which is reflected in her earliest published works and in her non-fiction.
Biography
Born "some time after WWII" Carla Kelly calls herself a navy brat. The daughter of a Navy Officer she grew up overseas or on one coast of the United States or the other. She attended Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in Provo, Utah where she studied history. She then went on to complete a Masters in the same subject focussing on U.S. military history.
In her varied professional career Ms Kelly has been a ranger/historian with the National Park Service at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, a contract research historian for the State Historical Society of North Dakota and has taught history at university level. Ms Kelly is a former staff features writer for the Valley City Times Record newspaper based in Valley City, North Dakota.
Ms Kelly lives in Wellington, Utah. She is married to Martin Kelly, former Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota, and now retired. They have five grown children now located in various parts of America.
Literary influences
When interviewed by Lola Sparks in Purple Pens, Ms Kelly identified the following writers as having influenced her:- Louisa May AlcottLouisa May AlcottLouisa May Alcott was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women and its sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys. Little Women was set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868...
- The Hornblower novels of C. S. ForesterC. S. ForesterCecil Scott "C.S." Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith , an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of naval warfare. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, depicting a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen...
- R. F. DelderfieldR. F. DelderfieldRonald Frederick Delderfield was a popular English novelist and dramatist, many of whose works have been adapted for television and are still widely read.-Childhood in London and Surrey:...
- Joseph ConradJoseph ConradJoseph Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist.Conrad is regarded as one of the great novelists in English, although he did not speak the language fluently until he was in his twenties...
- Nevil ShuteNevil ShuteNevil Shute Norway was a popular British-Australian novelist and a successful aeronautical engineer. He used his full name in his engineering career, and 'Nevil Shute' as his pen name, in order to protect his engineering career from any potential negative publicity in connection with his novels.-...
- Jack SchaeferJack SchaeferJack Warner Schaefer was a twentieth century American author known for his Westerns. His most famous work is Shane, which was made into a critically acclaimed movie, and the short story "Stubby Pringle's Christmas" .-Biography:Schaefer was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of an attorney...
- Ernest HaycoxErnest HaycoxErnest James Haycox was a prolific American author of Western fiction.-Biography:Haycox was born in Portland, Oregon, to William James Haycox and the former Martha Burghardt on October 1, 1899...
- Charles KingCharles King (general)Charles King was a United States soldier and a distinguished writer.-Biography:...
In her author profile on the e-Harlequin site, Ms Kelly says her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. His books, which have been translated into 36 languages, have garnered him many awards...
, John Harvey
John Harvey
-People:*John Harvey , English stage and film actor*John Harvey , American actor*John Harvey , Retired National Football League running back...
and Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson (novelist)
Dr. Peter Robinson is an English crime writer, based in Canada. He is best known for his crime novels set in Yorkshire featuring Inspector Alan Banks...
.
Writing career
Ms Kelly began writing Regency Romances because of her interest in the Napoleonic WarsNapoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
(1803-1815). A major theme in her books is how war touches the lives of ordinary people. In surviving the effects of war and in helping other survivors her characters find in themselves qualities of strength and purpose not previously evident. They are quiet achievers influencing the world on small, personal stages, making a difference in their own lives and others ultimately by acts of kindness rather than daring. Ms Kelly goes against the norms of the genre by focusiing her attention not on the glittering world of London society and the social elite, but on the other 99.9% of the population occupying England. Her stories are distinguished by authentic, well-researched detail and lightened by a ready sense of humour.
Ms Kelly has also written an acclaimed series of short stories about the men, women and children of Fort Laramie during the Indian Wars era of American history. In 2003 her entire collection of Indian War stories was re-published in Here's to the Ladies: Stories from the Frontier Army. Two of these stories A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter were awarded Spur Award
Spur Award
The Spur Award is an annual literary prize awarded by the Western Writers of America. Founded in 1953 with only four categories , the award today has expanded to include the following categories:...
s from the Western Writers of America
Western Writers of America
Western Writers of America, founded 1953, promotes literature, both fiction and non-fiction, pertaining to the American West. Although its founders wrote traditional western fiction, the more than five hundred current members also include historians and other non-fiction writers as well as authors...
.
Awards
- 1978 Spur Award:Short Subject (Western Writers of America) - A Season for Heroes (FAR West Magazine)
- 1981 Spur Award:Short Subject (Fiction) (Western Writers of America) - Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter (FAR West Magazine)
- 1993-1994 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award - Regency
- 1995 RITA Award: Best Regency Romance (Romance Writers of America) - Mrs Drew Plays Her Hand
- 1997 RITA Award: Best Regency Romance (Romance Writers of America) - The Lady's Companion
- 2001 All About Romance. Readers Award: Best Regency Romance - One Good Turn.
- 2001 Romance Readers Anonymous. Best Regency Romance - One Good Turn
- 2001 Romance Readers Anonymous. Best Regency Author
- 2002 All About Romance. Readers Award: Best Traditional Regency - The Wedding Journey.
- 2001 Romance Readers Anonymous. Best Regency Romance - The Wedding Journey
Forthcoming
"Marian's Christmas Wish" (Signet reprint), September 2011"Coming Home for Christmas," Harlequin Historical, November 2011
"Enduring Light" (Cedar Fort, Inc.), January 2012