Day Leclaire
Encyclopedia
Day Leclaire is a best-selling American
author of more than forty romance novel
s. She has been awarded numerous prestigious prizes from a multitude of organizations.
and set in the Wild West, was the beginning of her love of writing.
Leclaire attended the University of California, Berkeley
with the intent to major in anthropology
. After her first camping trip, however, she realized she was not cut out for a life without running water and flush toilets, and dropped out of school to decide what she really wanted to do with her life.
Shortly thereafter, Leclaire met her husband, Frank, and the two married after knowing each other only five months. They became entrepreneurs, running a film library in Berkeley
, remodeling houses in Seattle, Washington
, and then opening a produce market. When Leclaire became pregnant with their son Matt, she decided that she really wanted to be a writer. The next day, her husband bought her a computer.
gave her encouraging feedback, Leclaire was not able to sell a book in the beginning. Her career seemed briefly stalled when her younger sister, Nancy, died of a brain tumor and Leclaire, alone in a new city, dealt with her grief. Her husband challenged her to do something to occupy herself, and Leclaire once again turned to writing. The book that resulted, Jinxed, was her first sale, and it was dedicated to Nancy.
Leclaire has since been nominated ten times for the Romance Writers of America
RITA Award, the romance novelist's equivalent of an Oscar. She has been awarded numerous other prestigious prizes from a multitude of organizations (see Awards). Since 2000, Leclaire has only submitted her works for consideration for the RWA RITA Award, as she feels "the vanity shelf is full."
She and her husband live on Hatteras Island
in North Carolina
. Leclaire's only son has recently graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and plans to attend Virginia Tech for graduate studies.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of more than forty romance novel
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
s. She has been awarded numerous prestigious prizes from a multitude of organizations.
Early years
Day Leclaire started writing when she was just a child. After a long day of trying to keep occupied in the midst of a snowstorm, Leclaire and her three siblings ran out of things to do. In an effot to keep her own patience, Leclaire's mother challenged her to write her own story. That historical epic, based on CinderellaCinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
and set in the Wild West, was the beginning of her love of writing.
Leclaire attended the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
with the intent to major in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
. After her first camping trip, however, she realized she was not cut out for a life without running water and flush toilets, and dropped out of school to decide what she really wanted to do with her life.
Shortly thereafter, Leclaire met her husband, Frank, and the two married after knowing each other only five months. They became entrepreneurs, running a film library in Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, remodeling houses in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, and then opening a produce market. When Leclaire became pregnant with their son Matt, she decided that she really wanted to be a writer. The next day, her husband bought her a computer.
Writing career
Although HarlequinHarlequin Enterprises Ltd
Harlequin Enterprises Limited is a Toronto, Ontario-based company that is a publisher of series romance and women's fiction. Owned by the Torstar Corporation, the largest newspaper publisher in Canada, the company publishes approximately 120 new titles each month in 29 different languages in 107...
gave her encouraging feedback, Leclaire was not able to sell a book in the beginning. Her career seemed briefly stalled when her younger sister, Nancy, died of a brain tumor and Leclaire, alone in a new city, dealt with her grief. Her husband challenged her to do something to occupy herself, and Leclaire once again turned to writing. The book that resulted, Jinxed, was her first sale, and it was dedicated to Nancy.
Leclaire has since been nominated ten times for the Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America is a national non-profit genre writers association. It provides networking and support to individuals seriously pursuing a career in romance fiction and supports top authors such as Nora Roberts and Judith McNaught.-History:...
RITA Award, the romance novelist's equivalent of an Oscar. She has been awarded numerous other prestigious prizes from a multitude of organizations (see Awards). Since 2000, Leclaire has only submitted her works for consideration for the RWA RITA Award, as she feels "the vanity shelf is full."
Family
Leclaire was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2000, and endured chemotherapy and radiation treatment as a result. Leclaire took a break from writing from 2004 to 2005 in an attempt to recover her creativity, but is finally back in her groove. In 2006 she began writing again, this time for Silhouette Desire, and had five books released in 2007.She and her husband live on Hatteras Island
Hatteras Island
Hatteras Island is a barrier island located off the North Carolina coast. Dividing the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound, it runs parallel to the coast, forming a bend at Cape Hatteras. It is part of North Carolina's Outer Banks and includes the towns of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton,...
in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Leclaire's only son has recently graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and plans to attend Virginia Tech for graduate studies.
Awards
- 1994 - Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Harlequin Romance
- 1994 - Finalist for Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Love and Laughter Category
- 1995 - Finalist for Holt Medallian Award, Traditional Category
- 1996 - Finalist for Holt Medallian Award, Traditional Category
- 1996 - 2nd place - National Communications Contest, National Federation of Press WomenNational Federation of Press WomenThe National Federation of Press Women, , founded in 1937, is a US-based organization for men and women in electronic, broadcast and print journalism....
for Best Romance Fiction in the US - 1996 - 1st place - National Communications Contest, National Federation of Press WomenNational Federation of Press WomenThe National Federation of Press Women, , founded in 1937, is a US-based organization for men and women in electronic, broadcast and print journalism....
for Best Romance Fiction in North Carolina - 1996 - Finalist for Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Harlequin Romance
- 1997 - Finalist for Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Traditional Category
- 1997 - Finalist for Holt Medallion Award, Traditional Category
- 1997 - Finalist for Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, Short Contemporary Category
- 1997 - Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Love and Laughter Category
- 1997 - Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Best Harlequin Romance
- 1998 - Finalist for Holt Medallion Award, Traditional Category
- 1998 - Finalist for Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Traditional Category
- 1998 - Finalist for Oklahoma Romance Writers of America's National Readers Choice Awards, Traditional Category
- 1998 - Golden Quill Award, Traditional Category
- 1998 - Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, Short Contemporary Category
- 1999 - Finalist for Georgia Romance Writers' MAGGIE Award, Short Contemporary Category
- 1999 - Finalist for Holt Medallion Award, Traditional Category
- 1999 - Finalist for Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Traditional Category
- 1999 - Phoenix Desert Rose Golden Quill Award, Traditional Category
- 1999 - Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, Short Contemporary Category
- 1999 - Finalist for Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Harlequin Romance
- 2000 - Finalist for Georgia Romance Writers MAGGIE Award, Short Contemporary
- 2000 - Finalist for First Coast Romance Writers of America The Beacon Published Author Award, Short Contemporary
- 2000 - Finalist for Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America Booksellers Best Award, Traditional Category
- 2000 - Finalist for Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Traditional Category
- 2000 - Holt Medallion Award, Traditional Category
- 2000 - Phoenix Desert Rose Golden Quill Award, Traditional Category
- 2000 - Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, Short Contemporary Category
- 2000 - First Coast Romance Writers of America The Beacon Published Author Award, Short Contemporary
- 2000 - Finalist for Holt Medallion Award, Traditional Category
- 2001 - Finalist for Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Traditional Category
- 2003 - Finalist for Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Long Contemporary Category
Single novels
- Jinxed (1990)
- Where There's a Will (1991)
- To Catch a Ghost (1993)
- Once a Cowboy (1994)
- Her Secret Santa (1997)
- Mail-order Bridegroom (1995)
- One Night Wife (1995)
- Make Believe Engagement (1996)
- The Secret Baby (1997)
- Her Secret Bodyguard (2000)
- To Marry a Sheikh (2000)
- The Marriage Project (2001)
- The Bride Price (2001)
Salvatore Brothers Series
- Who's Holding the Baby? (1994)
- Bridegroom on Approval (1999)
- The Brides Proposition (2000)
- The Baby Gift (2000)
Fairytale Weddings Series
- Temporary Husband (1996)
- Accidental Wife (1996)
- Shotgun Marriage (1997)
- Bridegroom on Approval (1999)
- Long-lost Bride (1999)
The Wedding Blitz Series
- The Provocative Proposal (2001)
- The Whirlwind Wedding (2002)
- The Baby Bombshell (2002)
The Royals Series
- The Royal Affair (2007)
- The Forbidden Princess (2007)
- The Prince's Mistress (2007)
- The Royal Wedding Night (2007)
- The Billionaire's Baby Negotiation (2007)
Dante's Legacy Series
- Dante's Blackmailed Bride (2008)
- Dante's Stolen Bride (2008)
- Dante's Wedding Deception (2008)
- Dante's Contract Marriage (2008)
- Dante's Ultimate Gamble (2010)
- Dante's Temporary Fiancee (2010)
Omnibus In Collaboration
- Christmas Treats (1998) (with Lindsay ArmstrongLindsay ArmstrongLindsay Armstrong is a popular South African-Australian writer of over 65 romance novels. She published her novels in Mills & Boon's since 1981.Armstrong was born and raised in South Africa, and married a New Zealand-born man who worked in West Africa...
and Penny JordanPenny JordanPenny Halsall, née Penelope Jones better known by her pen name of Penny Jordan, is a best-selling and prolific English writer of over 200 romance novels...
) - Her Baby Secret (1999) (with Jacqueline BairdJacqueline BairdJacqueline Baird is popular English writer of over 30 romance novels since 1988.-Biography:Jacqueline Baird was born on April 1 in Northumberland, the Border County of England...
, Lynne GrahamLynne GrahamLynne Graham is a popular Northern Irish author of over 60 romance novels. She published her novels in Mills & Boon since 1987.-Biography:...
) - Wedlocked (1999) (with Anne McAllisterAnne McAllisterAnne McAllister is a best-selling United States writer of over 55 romance novels since 1985.-Biography:Anne McAllister was born in California, but spent time on her grandparents' ranch in Colorado and visiting relatives in Montana...
and Margaret WayMargaret WayMargaret Way is an Australian writer, and she is one of Mills & Boon's most prolific authors with more than 110 novels.-Biography:Margaret Way was born on 7 August in Brisbane, Australia...
) - Mail-Order Grooms (2000) (with Vicki Lewis ThompsonVicki Lewis ThompsonVicki Lewis Thompson is a best-selling U.S.American writer of over seventy romance novels. She has also been published under the pseudonyms Cory Kenyon and Corey Keaton with Mary Tate Engels.-Biography:...
) - Rainy Day Kisses / The Bride Price (2001) (with Debbie MacomberDebbie MacomberDebbie Macomber is a best-selling American author of over 150 romance novels and contemporary women's fiction. Over 140 million copies of her books are in print throughout the world, and four have become made-for-TV-movies...
) - Christmas Wishes, Christmas Gifts: The Heart of Christmas / Her Secret Santa (2002) (with Tara Taylor Quinn)
- Marriage Mergers (2002) (with Susan NapierSusan NapierSusan Napier was a popular New Zealand writer of over 30 romance novels in various Mills & Boon category lines since 1984.-Biography:...
and Michelle ReidMichelle ReidMichelle Reid is a popular British writer of over 30 romance novels in Mills & Boon since 1988.-Biography:Michelle Reid born and grew up in Manchester in the Northwest of England with her four siblings...
) - Tender Love Stories: Compliments of the Groom / Who's Holding the Baby?/ One-night Wife / A Secret Valentine/ East *of Today (2002) (with Dixie BrowningDixie BrowningDixie Browning, née Burrus is an American artist and writer of over 100 romance novels. She also has published under the pen name Zoe Dozier, and with her sister Mary Burrus Williams, she writes historical romance under the name Bronwyn Williams.-Biography:Dixie Burrus was born in 1930 on North...
and Kasey Michaels) - Western Weddings (2002) (with Susan Fox)
- Kissing Frosty / The Boss, the Baby and the Bride (2002) (with Anne StuartAnne StuartAnne Stuart, born Anne Kristine Stuart , is a prolific and best-selling American romance novelist. She has written over 60 novels and was the recipient of the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.Her first book was published in 1974 by Ballantine Press when she was 25 years old...
) - In Name Only (2003) (with Jill ShalvisJill ShalvisJill Shalvis is a USA Today bestselling American writer of over 50 romance novels since 1996. She has written four books under the pseudonym Jill Sheldon.-Biography:...
)