Judith O'Brien’s Followers (45)

Judith O'Brien

Born

The United States

Genre

Romance

edit data

Writing romance novels has got to be the way to make a living in the world. What other career allows you to send the kids off to school, walk the dog, and vanish into the most fascinating of historical times and places, with the most glorious of men, to escape danger and find everlasting love for the rest of the day?

Like most writers, I knew early on that I wanted to be a writer. Well, almost. Actually, writing was the third choice on my short list of career possibilities, right after Fairy Princess and Prima Ballerina. The first two didn't work out. So after college I moved to New York, where I worked for Seventeen Magazine. Not only had I never really been to New York before, but I believe I was the only editorial assistant in the magazin Writing romance novels has got to be the way to make a living in the world. What other career allows you to send the kids off to school, walk the dog, and vanish into the most fascinating of historical times and places, with the most glorious of men, to escape danger and find everlasting love for the rest of the day?

Like most writers, I knew early on that I wanted to be a writer. Well, almost. Actually, writing was the third choice on my short list of career possibilities, right after Fairy Princess and Prima Ballerina. The first two didn't work out. So after college I moved to New York, where I worked for Seventeen Magazine. Not only had I never really been to New York before, but I believe I was the only editorial assistant in the magazine industry who still wore knee socks. Soon I was promoted to Editor of the "Letters to the Editor" department. Yes, there really IS an editor for the letters to the editor column. But it allowed me to write articles, answer the personal problems of teens (boys and zits were the big topics of concern), and rummage through the back files of the magazine. I found Sylvia Plath's original carbon of a short story she submitted while still in high school. There were articles on up-and-coming talents with names like Judy Holiday, Marlon Brando and Elvis. And very occasionally I was employed as a last-minute makeover subject. That was me looking miserable after getting the "Brideshead Revisited" bob.

Then I lucked into a fabulous job - as a jacket copy writer at a publishing house called Pocket Books. There I first read Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood in manuscript form, and from those I would compose the blurbs for the book covers. It was heaven. I would read straight through my lunch hour, thus accounting for the chicken salad and iced tea on the returned manuscripts. But as much as I loved reading those marvelous stories, what I really wanted to do was to write one. Just one. Just to see what would happen.

Life interfered. I went back into magazines, this time at Self as an editor and writer. I got married, then had my son. I was still on maternity leave, writing general health articles while bouncing a newborn on my knee, that I began to dream once again of writing a romance novel. So that is exactly what I did. And I modestly claim to have written the most horrendous first three chapters of ANY book, in ANY genre, at ANY time in history. Unfortunately, still addled by the turmoil of being a new mom (hey, it's an excuse), I actually sent the wretched chapters to agents and publishers.

The rejections were polite form letters. Dozens of them. I shoved them into a bottom drawer and stuck to articles, becoming a free-lance writer and full-time mom. A few years later I gave romance writing another try. This time I sent it to only one person, Linda Marrow, with whom I had worked at Pocket Books years earlier. I certainly did not expect her to accept the manuscript. But I did hope she would let me know which editor at whatever house just might be interested in my time-travel romance.

Instead, I received a call from Linda three days later, offering me a two book contract.

Now I am a single mom. My son is twelve. I live in Brooklyn. And I'm lucky enough to write romance novels for a living. So please excuse me while I slip into something more comfortable. Such as Civil War Atlanta, or Tudor England, or Georgian Ireland, or....Did I mention how much I love this job? ...more

Combine Editions
Judith O'Brien’s books

Average rating: 3.75 · 4,399 ratings · 290 reviews · 19 distinct works • Similar authors

	Mary Jane by Judith O'Brien, Mike Mayhew (Artist) 3.55 avg rating — 813 ratings — published 2003 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Timeless Love 3.63 avg rating — 500 ratings — published 2002 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mary Jane 2 (Spider-Man) (Bk. 2) by Judith O'Brien, Mike Mayhew (Illustrator) 3.63 avg rating — 246 ratings — published 2004 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ashton's Bride 3.97 avg rating — 157 ratings — published 1995 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rhapsody in Time 4.15 avg rating — 66 ratings — published 1994 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Once Upon A Rose 3.58 avg rating — 76 ratings — published 1996 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	One Perfect Knight 3.29 avg rating — 58 ratings — published 1998 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	To Marry a British Lord 3.38 avg rating — 48 ratings — published 1997 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Maiden Voyage 3.54 avg rating — 41 ratings — published 1996 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Forever Bride 3.37 avg rating — 30 ratings — published 1999 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Judith O'Brien…

Quotes by Judith O'Brien (?)

“She shook her head, and he just-stared at her. She could feel his gaze, although she looked straight ahead and pretended that she didn't notice he was watching her.”
― Judith O'Brien, Timeless Love

1 likes

“Tell me," he said, smiling, "Would you really have danced with the duke?" She relaxed, the danger past. "Yes. But he was my second choice. You, sir, didn't seem to have much interest in me." "Ah. There you are very wrong." His smile faltered, and then he began to lean forward, as if he would kiss her again. But the door opened, and a loud group of young men pushed into the courtyard, filling the garden with glimmering light and sound as they laughed amongst themselves.”
― Judith O'Brien, Timeless Love

1 likes

“As she was being pulled away, she caught one last glimpse of Barnaby. As if he sensed her location, he looked up and their eyes met briefly. A smile flickered there in his expression, then he turned back to his conversation. Whatever he said caused the cluster to laugh riotously, one gentleman slapped him on the back.”
― Judith O'Brien, Timeless Love

1 likes

See all Judith O'Brien's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Romance Readers R...: 2010 July Monthly Challenge: Participants' Lists Thread	581	431	Aug 29, 2010 02:51PM
Tall, Dark & Deadly: Just finished reading and .... (2015)	1516	184	Jan 04, 2016 04:34PM
2-3-4 Challenge: * What series are you reading?	4968	235	Jan 01, 2017 04:08AM
Crazy Challenge C...: O Authors	18	146	Jul 29, 2018 07:51PM
2-3-4 Challenge: Robin's Reading Plan - December 2020	12	10	Dec 26, 2020 05:56PM
Tall, Dark & Deadly: Random Reads - December 2020	21	17	Dec 30, 2020 02:21PM
Nora Roberts Grou...: What Are You Reading?	492	108	Dec 31, 2020 06:47AM
J.D. Robb : What are you reading in 2020?	518	82	Dec 31, 2020 06:48AM

More…

Is this you? Let us know. If not, help out and invite Judith to Goodreads.

Judith O'Brien’s Followers (45)

Judith O'Brien

Combine EditionsJudith O'Brien’s books

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Judith O'Brien’s books