New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sarah MacLean grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book. Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels.
That’s the short version.
Those of you who are looking for the gory details, read on:
As the daughter of a former British spy (yes…that kind of British spy) and a jet-setting Italian who met in Paris and lived, at one point or another, in Rome, London, San Francisco, and New York, I feel that I should tell you that I’m a real-life Lara Croft who spends her days haggling in the bazaars of Marrakech, shopping on the Champs-Élysées, riding a motorbike across the Gobi desert, and scaling ancient Mayan temples.
Unfortunately for all of us, however, that would be a gross untruth. My parents settled down in Lincoln, Rhode Island long before I was born and left me little choice but to turn to books to find my own romance and adventure.
By high school, thanks to my older (and much wiser) sister, I was thoroughly obsessed with historical fiction. I would become enamored of whole eras and read any- and everything I could get my hands on that related to them. I went through phases—Medieval England, the Vikings, the Italian Renaissance.
Then I found Jane Austen. And I was hooked. Here was an author (a woman no less!) who went against everything that had been written before and who birthed a genre of literature. She cast aside the melodramatic gothic romance that the Brontë sisters (whom I could never quite stomach) would make famous and made romance fun . . . and funny . . . and real. Her heroines were cheeky and ironic, her heroes dark and brooding and arrogant to a marvelous fault. The combination of the two, for the teenager I was then and the thirty-year-old I am now, was electric.
That’s when I fell in love with Regency England. I imagine that I—and everyone around me—thought it was just another one of my historical phases . . . but this was one I never grew out of. I spent much of my teenage years, nose buried in historical romances, bemoaning the fact that I was born two centuries too late to enter the swirling beau monde that waltzed its way through the glittering ballrooms of London for my own season.
Is it any wonder that when I finally put pen to paper, I wrote a book about the Regency? The Season, a YA romance published in March 2009, tells the story of three best friends who love Jane as much as I do (even though they don’t know her name).
Through a stroke of very good luck I found myself at Smith College, where I was free to explore my wild obsessions. I had a group of friends who shared my love of historical fiction; we traded romances, talked Austen, and imagined what it would be like to be courted . . . really courted. I majored in history and somewhere along the way learned a rhyme that lists the Kings and Queens of England in order. After graduation, I went on a trip across Britain with my mother that only served to solidify my love for the rich history of the region.
Next, I found my way to New York, where I took a job in publishing and all those years of reading paid off. I bounced through several jobs and a graduate degree, amassing an unfathomably large collection of regency fiction along the way, which fills the bookshelves of my Brooklyn home to bursting. I am lucky to have a husband and dog who overlook my eccentricities and, sometimes, love me better for them.
And now, I’m happy to say that, through writing, I have the chance to put my crazy, eclectic life to good use and, while I may never be able to live up to the British spy and the jet-setting Italian, my characters are certainly making a go of it.
My first book, a YA historical romance called The Season, is available in the YA section of your local bookstore. My adult historical romances, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord are in the romance section; they’ll be joined in April by the third book in my Love by Numbers series, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart.
***
Are You Doing a School Project on Sarah?
Click here for tips on where to begin!
April 13th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
I love your “nine” and “ten” books. So, much I checked when the “eleven” book was coming out and put it in my blackberry. Then, all the great reviews started coming out and I thought “it is out in e-print early” – it’s not. Talk about disappointing – so, I will wait a little longer. If “eleven” is half as good as the other two, it will be well worth the wait.
April 24th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Thanks, Claire! Can’t wait to hear what you think of Juliana & Simon!
April 27th, 2011 at 8:23 am
[...] love Sarah Maclean, and even a quick visit to her website will tell you why. First of all, there are her [...]
May 3rd, 2011 at 11:29 am
Hi Sarah!
We will be there on Friday! So excited!
-Arianne
May 4th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
OMG! Just finished “Eleven” in one sitting… one very long sitting but I could not put it down! I absolutely loved it. Since I’ve already read “Nine” and “Ten” I’m very sad to say that I now have to wait for your next brilliant love match…. and I can not wait!
Congratuations on all it’s success!
May 19th, 2011 at 11:18 am
Absolutely adored 11 Scandals. It was everything I hoped for and more. I wanted to know if you are starting a new romance series any time soon?
June 9th, 2011 at 7:39 am
There’s a new series launching in early 2012, Jessica! The Fallen Angel quartet, centered around a Regency-era gaming hell!
May 20th, 2011 at 11:15 am
Hi Sarah,
Hope that you’re doing well. It was great seeing you last month at WORD.
I re-read your first two books so that my memory was fresh when I started reading Eleven Scandals. I’m only on page# 98 but I’m loving it! Thank God it’s Friday so I can stay up late to finish it tonight.
When I was re-reading the first two books in the series, I’ve almost missed my train stop and I stayed up until 2AM to finish one of them. Your writing and characters are addictive.
Take care.
Rosemary
June 9th, 2011 at 7:38 am
It was great to see you, Rosemary! Thank you so much for coming out to WORD!
I hope you enjoyed the rest of the book! Much love!
May 23rd, 2011 at 1:18 am
I love love love your books!! I just finished reading Eleven Scandals, I bought it Sunday evening and could not put it down I finished it at 1 AM. Loved that book. Are you planning to write a story about the Earl of Allendale? I hope so. Look forward to your next book!!! Happy Writing!!
June 9th, 2011 at 7:37 am
Thanks, Cassandra! Everyone loves Benedick! As soon as his heroine makes an appearance, I will write his story…but I’m just not sure who she is! xo
June 13th, 2011 at 4:25 am
If I may suggest, how about Lady Penelope (Simon’s ex-fiance) for Benedick, Earl of Allendale? Or Simon’s sister, Lady Georgiana?
The title could be: Twelve Deeds to Unravel an Earl’s Will, Twelve Deeds to Secure an Earl’s Hand or Twelve Deeds to Hook an Earl!
By the way, I adored your Love By Numbers series =)
May 26th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
I loved your book the Season!! Are you coming out with anymore YA books?
June 9th, 2011 at 7:34 am
Thank you so much for writing, Abby! Unfortunately, I don’t have any more plans for other books in The Season series…but I do have plans for another YA! Stay tuned!
June 13th, 2011 at 1:54 am
hi sarah I love you book, I spend the long eekend in bed reading them, the best time ever. I as ondering are you going to right a book about Simeon’s iste Georgiana.
June 15th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
I really enjoyed your book 11 scandals! Are you going to be writing more books in the series? If you are when will they come out!?!?!
June 16th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
I loved your numbers books. I too would like to see books for Benedick and Lady Penelope.
June 17th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Thanks so much, Ellen…Poor, sad Benedick! Everyone loves him and I left him all alone!
July 7th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Hi Sarah,
Your book “Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake,” has been on my “read again” pile in my bookcase since I read it last year. I have been working on my manuscript since the fall and I haven’t had a chance to read your other books but plan to in the future.
I sat in on your Familiarity Breeds Success session at RWA last week and I wanted to let you know it was one of the best sessions I attended. Both you and Lauren were entertaining and provided useful suggestions. I would absolutely attend any session you were giving in the future.
Also, as a native New Yorker I find your blogs so spot on and funny. I look forward to them each time I go to your site. Keep up the good work!
Regards,
Laurie
August 9th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
I loved your books 9, 10, & 11. They were some of the best I’ve read. i have been reading historical romance, mostly regency, since i was in middle school, so that would be 20+ years. it’s all i read. i also would love to see Benedick and Lady Penelope. Or a book about Georgiana. that would be awesome.
August 20th, 2011 at 3:53 am
Sarah, I love, love,*love* your book “Nine rules break..”. It’s one of the best historical romance I’ve ever read. I’m amazed by the characters of Gabriel and Callie
( especially), they are so real and well depicted.
Just like you I adore Jane Austen and I just feel I was born in the wrong century :) I like Emily Brönte, though :)
I can’t wait to read your other books. You’re extremely talented.
Thank you for giving me some amazing hours of going back in fascinating Regency England and forgetting our so unromantically present.
Simona – Italy
September 25th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Are you going to write sequels to The Season? I would love to follow Ella and Vivi not mention the rest of the Stafford men. You hinted of more adventures to come for Alex and Gavin at the end of the book.
I am new to your books but have enjoyed all that I have read so far.
Ann
October 21st, 2011 at 9:30 am
Please don’t ever quit writing – can’t put your books down (although my husband would like the housework to be done once in a while)!! Love your books and I’ve read hundreds upon hundreds of romance books and find your books are the best written, the most entertaining and just WONDERFUL!!! I’ve never felt compelled to write to an author but after reading 3 of your books I just wanted to say … Thank you, thank you!!!!!!!
Sheila
February 1st, 2012 at 6:18 pm
I absolutely love your book THE SEASON. Plese write a sequel to it. I ma actually rereading it right now for like the 100th time!!! I just tried to send you an email but i wasnt able to! I really love historical romance books and i am trying to finish the jane Austen collection now. I love the way the characters in your book converse….as silly as it may sound i am trying to learn to talk like Alex, Vivi, and Ella right now! I dont know if you are allowed to answer this question, but who are the girls that pose as Alex, Vivi, and Ella on the cover of the book?? Well please answer if you can. One more thing….the way you describe the characters and settings makes you feel as if you were living it….it made me almost want to fall in love with Lord Blackmoor/ Gavin Sewell!!
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Hi Nikki,
So happy you like The Season! I wish I could tell you who the models are on the cover of the book…unfortunately, I don’t know myself! But they look just perfect, don’t they?!
I’m afraid that there are no plans for a sequel to the book anytime soon. Maybe someday, though!
xo
March 4th, 2012 at 3:16 am
I would like to know if you are going to write a secqil to A rouge by another name I enjoyed that book so much .yours truly Marie
March 5th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Sarah,
Just finished “Rogue!” Wow! I LOVED IT!!!! Michael is one of the sexiest characters I’ve ever come across. I know that Rogue was just released but I’m now dying to read about Cross and Pippa! Any plans to release a sequel about these two?? I’ve read all of your novels, and I love them all, I’ve just read them too quickly and I’m dying for more! Thanks for the hours of entertainment!
March 8th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
I have just finished “A Roque ……”. It is a lovely novel, I loved Penelope and I absolutly adored Michael. I feel so sad I came to the end of this beautiful novel and I can not wait for the sequel. When does it getting published?
By the way, I loved all your books!
March 21st, 2012 at 6:24 pm
I have just finished “A Rogue …”. I loved it! I can not wait for the next book. I will wait patiently though! I’ve read all of your novels, including the Season, and I like them all. Thank you very much! I quite sure you probably have the whole Fallen Angel quartet already in your mind if not in paper, but could it not be possible to add and extra angel?…Tommy, in a way he is also a fallen angel. I like him very much, as much as I like Benedick, and I would love for them to have their own happy ending. Hope so!
Best regard and happy writing.
Tricia
April 7th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Sarah,
I fell in love with your book The Season. I am proud to say that it is my favorite book. I too love Regency England, and wish that I could have my own season. I really hope that you one day will write stories for Lady Eleanor and Lady Vivian. I feel like they need love stories just as adventurous as Alex’s.
April 20th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
Sarah,
I just finished A Rogue by Any Other Name and LOVED it (just like all of your others)! Please tell us that you’ll be working on Philippa and Cross’ story next! Loved your teaser for their story. I’ll try to remember to keep checking for your next publication date – whatever the story.
April 30th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Hi Sara,
I just wanted to say tat I’m an avid historical romance reader and jus recently I read ur books, covered most of them except for the season which is on my bedside preparing itself to be read. Your books made me fall in love, laugh n even cry with all the characters portrayed in them, but my favs were the ten and eleven books of love by nos series. I jus wanted to state my humble request to pls write a book based on georgiana, simon’s sister in the future if possible, I really really want to know wat happened to her(want her to hav a happy ending),and I
won’t mind while reading her story to revisit wit al the wonderful characters from the previous books in tat series.finally jus wanted to thanks for the wonderful books!!!
September 27th, 2012 at 1:01 am
[...] If you think that’s big, you should hear what I found out about Sarah MacLean. Lady B’s eyes grow round. Don’t torment [...]
October 19th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
I started the 9, 10 ,11 books out of order I started with 11 and loved it but wondered about Benedick the Earl of Allendale. After reading and loving all 3 books I still want to know more about Benny he needs his own story!
December 10th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Dear Ms. MacLean, I have thoroughly enjoyed Nine, Ten and Eleven as well as the 1st Rogue-Bourne and will definitely look for the next one late in January but I was hoping that you would consider telling us about Benedick Allendale with his own romance at some point in the future. I actually read Nine over a second time before searching out the next of your books. I will be reading the season before this month is over. Your writing is Splendid!
December 31st, 2012 at 4:23 pm
I agree!…I would LOVE to hear Benedick’s story! Hope that it will possibly be “Twelve” in that series :)
January 13th, 2013 at 9:30 am
omggg i absolutely loved simones and julianas book, unfortunately i wasnt aware of it being the 3rd in a series so i started with the last but hey im still keen in reading from the startt!!
ive been reading alot of historical romance books in the past 6 months from various authors but yours is SOOO different compared to everyone elses, i might be one of the youngest readers of this genre as i am still in high school but i JUST CANT STOP ITS TOO ADDICTIVEE
January 20th, 2013 at 12:14 am
Hi, I hope you keep writing, I love your novels, the romance of the protagonists but I just want to ask you one thing, please please don´t leave Benedic alone, He need somebody with soul maybe Georgiana, but not Lady Penelope please Thanks
February 26th, 2013 at 5:02 am
Hi sarah…
Loved ur love by number series…do write benedicks story too….loved the characters you write…am still oly halfway through eleven..still loved it…can’t wait for benedicks story…
February 27th, 2013 at 5:03 am
hey sarah its me again…
loved all your books…keep writing..
loved penelope and michaels story..love phippa too..
February 27th, 2013 at 11:54 pm
hey sarah loved both your series…hope there will be benedicks and georgies book too..all the best..have a good life
March 12th, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Sarah I just finished 1 good Earl deserves a lover I love it. I can’t wait for your next 1 thank you for writing
March 23rd, 2013 at 10:37 am
Dear Ms. Maclean,
Thank you so much for your writing. I discovered Nine Rules by reading a blogger who raved about it over a year ago. I read it and wholeheartedly agreed with the review. I then devoured the next two books. I just recently picked up Nine Rules to reread. I remember why I loved it so much. The writing is superb. The story is unique and intriguing. I think the line “kisses should not leave you satisfied….they should leave you wanting” with stay with me forever. Brilliant!
so now I am looking thru your website for information about you upcoming series and what do I find? I find that you live in my old stomping ground! What more can a girl want than a favorite author hailing from the Best Place On Earth! :D
Thank younagain for your stories. Please continue to keep them intriguing.
March 26th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
[...] A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books Carrie Feron, editor [...]
April 7th, 2013 at 12:18 am
Hi Sarah,
Discovered you by accident last week. Was using Overdrive (app to borrow library ebooks) looking for Lisa Kleypas books and came across Rogue. I loved the cover and checked it out. OMG, it is so GOOD. Hhd
May 16th, 2013 at 3:12 am
I ♥ your book!!! I picked nine rules to break when romancing rake out at walmart. I am a proud owner of all your books now. They are wonderful, and I can honestly say I stay up the whole night when I’m reading a sarah maclean book. Lol