Janet Dailey
Encyclopedia
Janet Anne Haradon Dailey (born May 21, 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa
) is an American
author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
. Dailey always wanted to be a writer and loved books. Her three elder sisters often read to her when she was good. By the age of four, she had her own library card. She graduated in 1962 from Jefferson High School in nearby Independence, Iowa. She was employed by a secretarial firm owned by her future husband, Bill Dailey, who was fifteen years her senior. The two continued to work together, often spending 17 hours a day, seven days a week at work.
In 1974, after asserting yet again that she could write a better romance novel than those she had read, Dailey's husband challenged her to prove it. She sold her first manuscript to Harlequin
, becoming their first American author.
American writers had never written for category romances, and Harlequin was unwilling to gamble that readers would embrace the American themes or American settings, and rejected other American authors, such as Nora Roberts, because they "already had their American writer."
novels. Because her novels were set in contemporary times, there is little frontier
, but the novels recreate that feeling by introducing "physical confrontation of the elements" and focusing on the "primary nature of the pursuit" by a man and woman "unconstrained by any society's expectations of them." Many of the themes in her novels were groundbreaking for the genre. Her heroines, unlike most, lost their virginity. Others fell in love with poor or unattractive heroes.
She wrote a total of 57 novels for Harlequin. Among these novels were 50 in the "Janet Dailey Americana Series," in which every state in the United States
was represented. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized her for this achievement of setting a novel in every state. By 1998, her Harlequin novels had sold a combined 80 million copies. Dailey was also one of the early writers for the Silhouette lines, for which she wrote 12 titles.
During her most prolific years, Dailey set a goal of writing 15 pages per day. Her day began at 4 a.m. On good days, she would meet her quota in 8 to 10 hours; other days would require 12 to 14 hours of work. When she met her goal, Dailey would often stop writing, even if she was in the middle of a sentence. The unfinished thoughts provided her an incentive to begin writing again the next day. Some of her early novels for Harlequin took only eight days to write.
. Her subsequent books have also been New York Times Bestsellers. There are currently over 325 million copies of her books in print, with translations in 19 languages for 98 countries.
Her novel Foxfire Light was made into a movie.
Dailey began offering The Janet Dailey Award in 1993. This $5000 annual award was given to an author whose romance novel best addressed a social issue.
, who accused Dailey of copying her work for over seven years. The practice came to light after a reader read Roberts' Sweet Revenge and Dailey's Notorious back-to-back; she noticed several similarities and posted the comparable passages on the internet. Calling the plagiarism "mind rape," Roberts sued Dailey. Dailey acknowledged the theft and blamed it on a psychological disorder. She admitted that both Aspen Gold and Notorious lifted heavily from Roberts's work. Both of those novels were subsequently pulled from print. In April 1998 Dailey settled the case. Although terms were not released, Roberts had previously indicated that any settlement funds should be donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America
.
In 2001, Dailey returned to publishing with a four-book deal with Kensington Books
. The contract called for two books in the Calder series Dailey has written about a ranching family in Montana, and two books with holiday themes. Kensington expanded their relationship with Dailey in 2002, when she contracted for three more hardcover novels about the Calder family and an additional mass market original novel. At the same time, they purchased the reprint rights to 50 of her previously published romances.
, where Bill promoted and produced shows at the American Theater. He died on August 5, 2005.
Dailey considers Branson "an ideal place to live. The weather is generally good, the country is beautiful, and the people are so friendly--and unobtrusive."
Storm Lake, Iowa
Storm Lake is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 10,600 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,076 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Buena Vista County. Storm Lake is home to Buena Vista University, originally Buena Vista College...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Early years
Janet Anne Haradon was born on May 21, 1944 in Storm Lake, IowaStorm Lake, Iowa
Storm Lake is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 10,600 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,076 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Buena Vista County. Storm Lake is home to Buena Vista University, originally Buena Vista College...
. Dailey always wanted to be a writer and loved books. Her three elder sisters often read to her when she was good. By the age of four, she had her own library card. She graduated in 1962 from Jefferson High School in nearby Independence, Iowa. She was employed by a secretarial firm owned by her future husband, Bill Dailey, who was fifteen years her senior. The two continued to work together, often spending 17 hours a day, seven days a week at work.
In 1974, after asserting yet again that she could write a better romance novel than those she had read, Dailey's husband challenged her to prove it. She sold her first manuscript to Harlequin
Harlequin Enterprises Ltd
Harlequin Enterprises Limited is a Toronto, Ontario-based company that is a publisher of series romance and women's fiction. Owned by the Torstar Corporation, the largest newspaper publisher in Canada, the company publishes approximately 120 new titles each month in 29 different languages in 107...
, becoming their first American author.
American writers had never written for category romances, and Harlequin was unwilling to gamble that readers would embrace the American themes or American settings, and rejected other American authors, such as Nora Roberts, because they "already had their American writer."
Category romance
Dailey "provide[d]...[the] first look at heroines, heroes and courtships that take place in America, with American sensibilities, assumptions, history, and most of all, settings." She introduced the Western romance, romance novels set in the American West. The Western romance focused on the female, who was often marginalized in traditional WesternWestern (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
novels. Because her novels were set in contemporary times, there is little frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
, but the novels recreate that feeling by introducing "physical confrontation of the elements" and focusing on the "primary nature of the pursuit" by a man and woman "unconstrained by any society's expectations of them." Many of the themes in her novels were groundbreaking for the genre. Her heroines, unlike most, lost their virginity. Others fell in love with poor or unattractive heroes.
She wrote a total of 57 novels for Harlequin. Among these novels were 50 in the "Janet Dailey Americana Series," in which every state in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was represented. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized her for this achievement of setting a novel in every state. By 1998, her Harlequin novels had sold a combined 80 million copies. Dailey was also one of the early writers for the Silhouette lines, for which she wrote 12 titles.
During her most prolific years, Dailey set a goal of writing 15 pages per day. Her day began at 4 a.m. On good days, she would meet her quota in 8 to 10 hours; other days would require 12 to 14 hours of work. When she met her goal, Dailey would often stop writing, even if she was in the middle of a sentence. The unfinished thoughts provided her an incentive to begin writing again the next day. Some of her early novels for Harlequin took only eight days to write.
Single-title romance
In 1979, Dailey became the first romance author to transition from writing category romances to writing single-title romance novels. Her first mass market romance novel, Touch the Wind, reached the New York Times Best Seller ListNew York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
. Her subsequent books have also been New York Times Bestsellers. There are currently over 325 million copies of her books in print, with translations in 19 languages for 98 countries.
Her novel Foxfire Light was made into a movie.
Dailey began offering The Janet Dailey Award in 1993. This $5000 annual award was given to an author whose romance novel best addressed a social issue.
Plagiarism
Dailey was sued in 1997 by fellow novelist Nora RobertsNora Roberts
Nora Roberts is a bestselling American author of more than 209 romance novels. She writes as J.D. Robb for the "In Death" series, and has also written under the pseudonym Jill March...
, who accused Dailey of copying her work for over seven years. The practice came to light after a reader read Roberts' Sweet Revenge and Dailey's Notorious back-to-back; she noticed several similarities and posted the comparable passages on the internet. Calling the plagiarism "mind rape," Roberts sued Dailey. Dailey acknowledged the theft and blamed it on a psychological disorder. She admitted that both Aspen Gold and Notorious lifted heavily from Roberts's work. Both of those novels were subsequently pulled from print. In April 1998 Dailey settled the case. Although terms were not released, Roberts had previously indicated that any settlement funds should be donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America
ProLiteracy Worldwide
ProLiteracy is an international nonprofit organization based in Syracuse, N.Y., that supports the people and programs that help adults learn to read and write.-History:...
.
In 2001, Dailey returned to publishing with a four-book deal with Kensington Books
Kensington Books
Kensington Publishing Corp. is an American book publisher.- Overview :Kensington was founded in 1974 by Walter Zacharius, formerly of Lancer Books. Steven Zacharius became president and CEO in 2005. Vice president Michael Rosamilia has been the CFO since 1989. Laurie Parkin is the vice president...
. The contract called for two books in the Calder series Dailey has written about a ranching family in Montana, and two books with holiday themes. Kensington expanded their relationship with Dailey in 2002, when she contracted for three more hardcover novels about the Calder family and an additional mass market original novel. At the same time, they purchased the reprint rights to 50 of her previously published romances.
Personal life
In 1980, Dailey and her husband moved to Branson, MissouriBranson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
, where Bill promoted and produced shows at the American Theater. He died on August 5, 2005.
Dailey considers Branson "an ideal place to live. The weather is generally good, the country is beautiful, and the people are so friendly--and unobtrusive."
Cord & Stacy Series
- No Quarter Asked (1974)
- Fiesta San Antonio (1977)
- For Bitter or Worse (1978)
Single Novels
- Something Extra (1975)
- Sweet Promise (1976)
- Master Fiddler (1977)
- Ivory Cane (1977)
- The Rogue (1979)
- Touch the Wind (1979)
- Nightway (1980)
- Ride Thunder (1980)
- Hostage Bride (1981)
- The Lancaster Men (1981)
- For the Love of God (1982)
- Foxfire LightFoxfire LightFoxfire Light is a 1982 American film. It stars Leslie Nielsen and Tippi Hedren. It is based on a romance novel by Janet Dailey....
(1982) - Terms of Surrender (1982)
- Wildcatter's Woman (1982)
- The Best Way to Lose (1983)
- Mistletoe and Holly (1983)
- The Second Time (1983)
- Separate Cabins (1983)
- Western Man (1983)
- Leftover Love (1984)
- Silver Wings Santiago Blue (1984)
- The Pride of Hannah Wade (1985)
- Glory Game (1985)
- The Great Alone (1986)
- Heiress (1987)
- Rivals (1988)
- Masquerade (1990)
- Tangled Vines (1992)
- Riding High (1994)
- The Proud and the Free (1994)
- Legacies (1995)
- The Healing Touch (1996)
- Notorious (1996)
- Castles in the Sand (1996)
- A Capital Holiday (2001)
- Scrooge Wore Spurs (2002)
- The Not Forgotten War (2003)
- Maybe This Christmas (2003)
- Because of You (2004)
- Can't Say Goodbye (2004)
- Dance with Me (2004)
- Everything (2004)
- Eve's Christmas (2006)
- Man of Mine (2007)
- Something More (2007)
- Wearing White (2007)
- With This Kiss (2007)
Calder Series
- This Calder Sky (1981)
- This Calder Range (1982)
- Stands a Calder Man (1983)
- Calder Born, Calder Bred (1983)
- Calder Pride (1999)
- Green Calder Grass (2002)
- Shifting Calder Wind (2003)
- Calder Promise (2004)
- Lone Calder Star (2005)
- Calder Storm (2006)
- Santa in Montana (2010)
Americana Series
- AL-Dangerous Masquerade
- AK-Northern Magic
- AZ-Sonora Sundown
- AR-Valley Of the Vapours
- CA-Fire And Ice
- CO-After the Storm
- CT-Difficult Decision
- DE-The Matchmakers
- FL-Southern Nights
- GA-Night Of The Cotillion
- HI-Kona Winds
- ID-The Travelling Kind
- IL-A Lyon's Share
- IN-The Indy Man
- IA-The Homeplace
- KS-The Mating Season
- KY-Bluegrass King
- LA-The Bride Of The Delta Queen
- ME-Summer Mahogany
- MD-Bed Of Grass
- MA-That Boston Man
- MI-Enemy In Camp
- MN-Giant Of Mesabi
- MS-A Tradition Of Pride
- MO-Show Me
- MT-Big Sky Country
- NE-Boss Man From Ogallala
- NV-Reilly's Woman
- NH-Heart Of Stone
- NJ-One Of The Boys
- NM-Land Of Enchantment
- NY-Beware Of The Stranger
- NC-That Carolina Summer
- ND-Lord Of the High Lonesome
- OH-The Widow And The Wastrel
- OK-Six White Horses
- OR-To Tell The Truth
- PA-The Thawing Of Mara
- RI-Strange Bedfellow
- SC-Low Country Liar
- SD-Dakota Dreamin
- TN-Sentimental Journey
- TX-Savage Land
- UT-A Land Called Deseret
- VT-Green Mountain Man
- VA-Tidewater Lover
- WA-For Mike's Sake
- WV-Wild And Wonderful
- WI-With A Little Luck
- WY-Darling Jenny
- Americana (2001) (Omnibus)
- Americana 2 (2002) (Omnibus)
- Janet Dailey's Americana III (2002) (Omnibus)
Collections
- Boss Man From Ogallala / Darling Jenny (1982)
- Heart of Stone / Big Sky Country (1982)
- No Quarter Asked / The Indy Man (1982)
- Best of Janet Dailey: To Tell the Truth, That Boston Man (1983)
- Best of Janet Dailey: Bed of Grass, Heart of Stone (1984)
- Best of Janet Dailey: Wild and Wonderful, One of the Boys (1985)
- Rivals / Heiress (1991)
- Janet Dailey Collection (1994)
- Masquerade / Rivals / Heiress (1994)
- Janet Dailey Gift Set (1995)
- Summer Lovers: Strange Bedfellows; First Best And Only; Granite Man (1997)
- Always with Love (2002)
- Happy Holidays (2004)
- Western Man and Leftover Love (2004)
- Forever (2004)
- Going My Way (2005)
- Happily Ever After (2005)
- It Takes Two (2005)
- Let's Be Jolly (2005)
- Bring the Ring (2006)
- Ranch Dressing (2006)
- Try to Resist Me (2006)
- Foxfire Light / For the Love of God (2007)
- Separate Cabins / Second Time (2007)
Omnibus In Collaboration
- The Jasmine Bride / Sweet Promise / Turbulent Covenant (1987) (with Daphne ClairDaphne ClairDaphne Clair de Jong is a popular New Zealand writer of over 75 romance novels in Mills & Boon and other publishers since 1977 as Daphne Clair and Daphne de Jong, and under the pseudonyms Laurey Bright, Clair Lorel, and Clarissa Garland, and she also publishes poetry and articles.Daphne Clair de...
and Jessica SteeleJessica SteeleJessica Steele is a popular British author of over 85 romance novels. Her novels have been published by Mills & Boon since 1979.-Biography:...
) - The Master Fiddler / Forest of the Night / Rightful Possession (1988) (with Jane DonnellyJane DonnellyJane Donnelly was a popular writer of over 60 romance novels in Mills & Boon from 1965 to 2000.-Single novels:*Don't Look Back *A Man Apart *Don't Walk Alone *This Hell Called Love *Shadows from the Sea...
and Sally WentworthSally WentworthSally Wentworth was the pseudonym used by Doreen Hornsblow , a British romance writer of 70 romance novels in Mills & Boon's from 1977 to 1999.-Personal life:Doreen and her husband, Donald had a son, Keith...
) - Mistletoe and Holly / Sweet Sea Spirit (1991) (with Emilie RichardsEmilie RichardsEmilie Richards is an American author of over 50 contemporary romance and mystery novels.- Early years :Emilie Richards was born in Bethesda, Maryland and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. After receiving an undergraduate degree in American studies from Florida State University, Richards earned a...
) - Marry Me Cowboy (1995) (with Susan Fox, Anne McAllisterAnne McAllisterAnne McAllister is a best-selling United States writer of over 55 romance novels since 1985.-Biography:Anne McAllister was born in California, but spent time on her grandparents' ranch in Colorado and visiting relatives in Montana...
and Margaret WayMargaret WayMargaret Way is an Australian writer, and she is one of Mills & Boon's most prolific authors with more than 110 novels.-Biography:Margaret Way was born on 7 August in Brisbane, Australia...
) - Santa's Little Helpers (1995) (with Patricia Gardner Evans and Jennifer Greene)
- Flower Girls (1996) (with Beverly Beaver, Margaret Brownley and Ruth Ann Dale)
- A Spring Bouquet (1996) (with Jo BeverleyJo BeverleyJo Beverley, née Mary Josephine Dunn is a prolific British-Canadian writer of popular historical romance novels....
, Rebecca Brandewyne and Debbie MacomberDebbie MacomberDebbie Macomber is a best-selling American author of over 150 romance novels and contemporary women's fiction. Over 140 million copies of her books are in print throughout the world, and four have become made-for-TV-movies...
) - Homecoming (1997) (with Deborah Bedford, Dinah McCall and Fern MichaelsFern MichaelsFern Michaels is an American author of romance and thriller novels, including nearly 50 best selling books with more than 70 million copies in print...
) - Unmasked (1997) (with Jennifer Blake and Elizabeth GageElizabeth GageElizabeth Gage Commonly known as Missy, who is 12, is related to Alan. He runs crosscountry. a British jewellery designer and trained master goldsmith that has been creating collectable jewellery for over 40 years....
) - Wild Action (1997) (with Dawn Stewardson)
- The Only Thing Better Than Chocolate (2002) (with Kylie Adams and Sandra Steffen)
External links
- Janet Dailey on IMDB Website
- Janet Dailey's Webpage in Fantastic Fiction's Website
- Janet Dailey on the Internet Book List