Gayle Lynds
Encyclopedia
Gayle Lynds is an American author. A member of the U.S. Association for Intelligence Officers, she is known for being a bestselling novelist in the male-dominated genre of spy fiction
or spy
thrillers. Award-winning author, her books are published in some twenty countries.
Born in Nebraska, Lynds was raised in Iowa, graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism, and now lives in Maine where she is a full-time novelist.
Lynds began her writing career as a reporter for the Arizona Republic, where her investigative reporting made such an impact that it led to changes in state legislation. Later, she was an editor with Top Secret
security clearance
at a government think tank
. Her fiction career began with literary short stories
published under her own name and several pulp fiction novels under male pseudonym
s such as G.H. Stone, Gayle Stone, Nick Carter, and Don Pendleton. She also wrote three novels in The Three Investigators, a YA mystery novel series. With Robert Ludlum
, she created the Covert-One series
and wrote three of the books. In 2004, she co-founded and was elected co-president (with David Morrell
) of International Thriller Writers
, Inc.
The Last Spymaster was awarded the 2006 Novel of the Year prize from the Military Writers Society of America. Masquerade was listed by Publishers Weekly
as one of the ten top spy novels of all time. The Coil was a 2004 BookPage "Notable Title" and won the Affaire de Coeur reader poll for "Best Contemporary Novel." Mosaic was named "Thriller of the Year" by Romantic Times magazine. Mesmerized was a finalist for the 2002 Daphne du Maurier
Award. The Hades Factor, which she cowrote with Robert Ludlum, was a CBS television miniseries in April 2006.
Gayle Lynds was the first author to be featured by The Internet Book Database http://www.ibookdb.net/ in June 2006.
Her husband, fellow novelist Dennis Lynds
, died in August 2005.
Spy fiction
Spy fiction, literature concerning the forms of espionage, was a sub-genre derived from the novel during the nineteenth century, which then evolved into a discrete genre before the First World War , when governments established modern intelligence agencies in the early twentieth century...
or spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
thrillers. Award-winning author, her books are published in some twenty countries.
Born in Nebraska, Lynds was raised in Iowa, graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism, and now lives in Maine where she is a full-time novelist.
Lynds began her writing career as a reporter for the Arizona Republic, where her investigative reporting made such an impact that it led to changes in state legislation. Later, she was an editor with Top Secret
Top Secret
Top Secret generally refers to the highest acknowledged level of classified information.Top Secret may also refer to:- Film and television :* Top Secret , a British comedy directed by Mario Zampi...
security clearance
Security clearance
A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information, i.e., state secrets, or to restricted areas after completion of a thorough background check. The term "security clearance" is also sometimes used in private organizations that have a formal...
at a government think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
. Her fiction career began with literary short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
published under her own name and several pulp fiction novels under male pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s such as G.H. Stone, Gayle Stone, Nick Carter, and Don Pendleton. She also wrote three novels in The Three Investigators, a YA mystery novel series. With Robert Ludlum
Robert Ludlum
Robert Ludlum was an American author of 23 thriller novels. The number of his books in print is estimated between 290–500 million copies. They have been published in 33 languages and 40 countries. Ludlum also published books under the pseudonyms Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd.-Life and...
, she created the Covert-One series
Covert-One series
The Covert-One series is a sequence of thriller novels written by several authors in conjunction with Robert Ludlum. The books feature a team of political and technical experts, belonging to a top-secret U.S...
and wrote three of the books. In 2004, she co-founded and was elected co-president (with David Morrell
David Morrell
David Morrell is a Canadian-American novelist, best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become the successful Rambo film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. He has written 28 novels, and his work has been translated into 26 languages...
) of International Thriller Writers
International Thriller Writers
International Thriller Writers, Inc., was founded October 9, 2004, at a meeting at Bouchercon World Mystery and Suspense Conference in Toronto, Canada. Six months later, some 150 authors with more than one billion books sold worldwide had joined the organization as founding members.Co-founders...
, Inc.
The Last Spymaster was awarded the 2006 Novel of the Year prize from the Military Writers Society of America. Masquerade was listed by Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
as one of the ten top spy novels of all time. The Coil was a 2004 BookPage "Notable Title" and won the Affaire de Coeur reader poll for "Best Contemporary Novel." Mosaic was named "Thriller of the Year" by Romantic Times magazine. Mesmerized was a finalist for the 2002 Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
Award. The Hades Factor, which she cowrote with Robert Ludlum, was a CBS television miniseries in April 2006.
Gayle Lynds was the first author to be featured by The Internet Book Database http://www.ibookdb.net/ in June 2006.
Her husband, fellow novelist Dennis Lynds
Michael Collins (author)
Michael Collins is the best-known pseudonym of Dennis Lynds , an American author who primarily wrote mystery fiction....
, died in August 2005.
Novels
- The Book of Spies (2010, also published Library of Gold)
- Some characters in this novel are named after suggestions fans wrote in the author for a contest; although she doesn't say the exact choices.
- The Last Spymaster (2006)
- The Coil (2004)
- Mesmerized (2001)
- Mosaic (1998)
- Masquerade (1996)
Covert-One Novels with Robert Ludlum
- The Altman Code (2003)
- The Paris Option (2002)
- The Hades Factor (2000)