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A Little Background

click me! New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.

After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.

Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.

When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.

So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.

One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.

 

Find out more about Eloisa, including lots of photos, in her Readers' Area click me!

Chat with Eloisa on her Bulletin Board
More about Eloisa: read these Articles & Interviews
Lots more info in Eloisa's Media Kit
This bio is available in a Printable Version

Here's Eloisa in Dallas at the 2007 Romance Writers of America's “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing.

 

Eloisa signs her books at Turn The Page Bookstore in Maryland in December 2006.
Note: Above photo and photo at top right of this page courtesy of RomanceNovelTV.com.

 

Above: Eloisa in Atlanta at the 2006 RWA's “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing.

 

 

Get your log-in and password and check out more of Eloisa's snapshots in her Readers Pages.

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Eloisa has no events scheduled at this time. Please check back later.


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Online destinations that Eloisa frequents:

Eloisa James/Julia Quinn Bulletin Board: Join Eloisa and Julia and their readers as they discuss everything from romance novels to make-up, Shakespeare, love and recipes in this warm and caring community of Eloisa fans.

Eloisa's Online Essays for Barnes & Noble:
Once a month Eloisa expertly explores a facet of Romance on B&N online. With titles like Austen Remixed: The Lasting Influence of Mr. Darcy, and My Fairy Godmother, Myself, a study of the Cinderella plot line, Eloisa’s essays are a must read. Her column appears on the first Monday of every month. Mark your summer calendars: June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1.

RomanceNovel.tv: RomanceNovel.tv has shot lots of video of Eloisa talking about her books, meeting her fans and signing books. Don't miss this terrific site—new author interviews pop up every day!

Avon Bulletin Board: Ask questions of over sixty of romance's finest, including Julia Quinn and Kinley MacGregor as well as fellow Squawkers Christina Dodd and Teresa Medeiros. It's a great place to greet authors whose books you love -- and discover the very newest authors as well!

Guest Blogging: Eloisa regularly pops in at various blogs within the writing community. These are usually schedule with very little avanced notice. For up to the minute information about Eloisa's online appearances, please check the Eloisa James/Julia Quinn Bulletin Board as they are almost always mentioned there. Participation is encouraged!

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Read Eloisa in New York Magazine (in a pop-up window)

Read Eloisa in More Magazine (in a pop-up window)Eloisa writes articles about life and writing all the time - they are archived in the Readers' Pages shortly after they appear in the press.

Articles in Print:

May 2007: USA Today online asked Eloisa five questions.
Feb. 2006: Secret Romance St. Paul Pioneer Press features Eloisa in their Daily Life section.
Jan. 2005: Love’s Labors Eloisa interviewed in New York Magazine
Jan. 2005: Professor steps out of shadow Eloisa interviewed in The Oakland Press
June 2005: Eloisa on Leading a “Double Life” in More Magazine

 

Articles on the Web :

May. 2007: USA Today interview with Eloisa
Jan. 2006: WNBC interview with Eloisa
May 2005: Crescent Blue interview with Eloisa
Feb. 2005: Writer's Break interview with Eloisa
Jan. 2005: The Bookstore-Radcliff interview with Eloisa
A Romance Review.com: ARR Interview with Eloisa James
Publishers Weekly: "Bawdy Shakespearean Comes Clean"
RBL Romantica: "Spotlight on Eloisa James"
Thru paid-subscription only: WaxRomantic.com: Interview with Eloisa James

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» Here is a link to the page at the World Talk Radio website from which anyone can listen to yesterday's interviews: with Eloisa, Sari Robins, Victoria Alexander, Cathy Maxwell, and Teresa Medeiros.

» National Public Radio's All Things Considered Weekend Edition ran a lovely interview with Eloisa: listen to it yourself!

» Eloisa Archived. Hear past radio spots. Eloisa on NPR, from The Next Big Thing, entitled: From Bards to Bodices. Also, for direct download: the Fordham radio interview.

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