Patricia Maxwell (born Patricia Anne Ponder; March 9, 1942, near Goldonna, Louisiana), is an American writer. A member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and the Affaire de Coeur Romance Hall of Fame, Maxwell has received numerous awards for her writing[1]. Her first novel in the romance genre, Love's Wild Desire, became a New York Times Bestseller.[2]
Maxwell has published books under five different names. Using her real name, Patricia Maxwell, she wrote Gothic mystery-suspense romances. She wrote one book in collaboration with Carol Albritton that was published under the name Elizabeth Trehearne. Under her maiden name, Patricia Ponder, she wrote a murder mystery and a romantic suspense story. As Maxine Patrick, she wrote contemporary romances, and as Jennifer Blakehistorical romances.[3] Many of her books are set in her native Louisiana.
Biography
Early years
Maxwell is a seventh generation Louisianan[4] of English, Irish, Welsh, Scots-German, French, and Indigenous descent.[5] She was born in a large farm house in Northern Louisiana.[6] Through her mother, who belonged to a mail order book club, Maxwell was introduced at an early age to adult mysteries, westerns, historical novels, and romances.[7] As a young teenager, she volunteered at the school library.[7]
At age 15, Patricia Ponder married and took her husband's surname of Maxwell, becoming a housewife and mother. She began writing one morning when she was 21,[4] attempting to describe a very vivid dream she'd had that was set in historical Scotland.[7] She took a six-week correspondence course on writing and began practicing as much as she could.[7]
Writing career
For the next seven years, Maxwell sold various poems, articles, and short stories before selling her first novel manuscript in 1970.[5]
Maxwell's early works, published under her own name, were mystery suspense novels.[3] In the mid-1970s, this type of novel became less popular. Maxwell suddenly had trouble selling new works.[7] After two years of struggling to find another niche, Maxwell was asked to write a proposal for an emerging genre, historical romance.[7] Her first novel in this genre, Love's Wild Desire, became a New York Times Bestseller under the pseudonym Jennifer Blake (so that fans of her previous work would not be confused).
Maxwell has been writing romance and historical novels as Jennifer Blake for over 30 years.[3][5] The book is often set between 1830 and 1850 and take place in Louisiana.[7]
Personal life
Maxwell writes for six hours a day, five days a week in her home office, usually completing one book each year.[7] In her spare time, she enjoys collecting antiques, painting, and quilting. Because she is allergic to many chemicals, she and her husband maintain a small organic garden to cultivate their own produce. They also grow antique roses.[5]
After selling her first novel manuscript in 1970, she spent her first check on a greenhouse.[5]
Maxwell and her husband live in Northern Louisiana,[4] with a second home in Colorado.[5] They have four children and several grandchildren.[5]
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