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Gayle Callen

Historical Romance Author

Local Native Gayle Callen Follows Her Dream and Becomes a Successful Historical Romance Author

Local native, Gayle Callen, is truly one of “Today’s Women”. Gayle fell in love with writing when she was very young, but pushed this dream to the back of her mind and traveled the path that most of us do...education, marriage, children, and more. After many accomplishments, Gayle still felt the urge to write. The rest is history. Now a Bestselling Author of Romance Novels, Gayle is living her dream.

Gayle says that it all began in Erie, PA, when she was 13. Her parents, Fran & Renee Kloecker, had no problem letting her bury herself in the basement with an old typewriter. She started writing science fiction short stories and novellas about teenagers (naturally) who always managed to fall in love. Then at a high school slumber party, she borrowed a friend's copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss's SHANNA. Everyone else slept, Gayle stayed up all night reading--and was hooked. The world of books had opened up for her, and she devoured them. Gayle went to college and chose engineering instead of writing, but writing always lingered at the back of her mind. Gayle soon found out that she didn't like engineering enough to finish it, so she got married and had babies. As days went by, the typewriter (and soon a computer) called to her, and she finally decided to try her hand at a historical romance.

It took Gayle 13 years and three manuscripts (two of which will never leave the closet) before Avon bought The Darkest Knight in 1998. Her twelfth novel, The Viscount in Her Bedroom, just came out in June of this year, and her first novella was published in the Hot and Bothered anthology from St. Martin's Press. She also writes medievals again under the name Julia Latham. Her first Julia book, Thrill of the Knight, came out in March 2007.

A USA Today Bestselling author, Gayle Callen writes historical romances for Avon Books. Named the "Notable New Author of 1999," Gayle has also won the Holt Medallion and the Laurel Wreath Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards.

Gayle now resides in a suburb of Central New York, with her husband and three children, and spends a lot of time cheering at lacrosse games and cross country meets. Besides writing, she loves to read, sing, travel, crochet, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild, and Novelists Inc.

Gayle will share her journey from dreaming to becoming a successful Romance Novelist on Saturday and Sunday of this year’s For Women Only Expo. You can pick up her latest book on the show floor at the Borders booth. Have her autograph it for you.