One of the (many) great things about this job and this site is that you can discover authors that you wouldn't normally come across. Jane Porter is a fine example of this. An American author, originally from California, her titles and covers were the sort of books I would steer clear of as they are about mothers. Nothing disrespectful about that but personally as a mum myself I don't always want to read about a subject so close to home.
But Jane's perceptive take on women and their families in Mrs. Perfect had me hooked right from the beginning, so this week I decided to shine the spotlight on her.
Jane has written four titles under the genre of modern chick lit and numerous titles under the banner of Harlequin Presents. The latter are stories with powerful, sexual alpha male heroes, an independent heroine, a glamorous setting and an element of fantasy. Completely different to her modern lit ones (except for the independent heroine I should think).
After travelling extensively, and gaining a degree from UCLA in American Studies and a Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco, she now lives in Seattle with her two boys. She has worked in sales & marketing and has been a director of a non-profit organisation as well as teaching English to junior high and high school students.
Jane has been a finalist for the RITA award from the Romance Writers of America in 2002 and 2003. Her book Flirting with Forty has been made into a TV film with Heather Locklear.
Bibliography
Mrs. Perfect
Odd Mom Out
Flirting with Forty
The Frog Prince
Go here to see Jane's Harlequin Presents books
Jane Porter interview
