Carol Ericson ’80, M.A. ’81

Author Carol Ericson ’80, M.A. ’81 credits her fascination with romance novels to her sister. Ericson was always a bookworm, but after she was introduced by her sister to the work of Victoria Holt, the queen of romantic suspense, Ericson became intrigued with gothic romances. She even admits to once turning down a date in order to read one of Holt's newest books. Soon Ericson knew there was no turning back, and she began writing romantic stories for others to enjoy.

Now Ericson agrees that she owes her sister a special debt of gratitude for her prolific output, which has made her a favorite with fans of Harlequin Intrigues. Her titles include Dead Air, Smokescreen and The Body Politic, all published in June 2011.

Ericson received both bachelor's and master's degrees in English literature from UCLA. Afterward, during a summer program at Oxford University, she was inspired to begin writing her first book. After much thought and patience, she finished the book 20 years later, only to discover to her dismay that there was no longer a demand for gothic romance literature. So she turned to contemporary romantic suspense, and soon her body of work included both erotic romance and romantic comedy.

Now, after writing eight books with Harlequin Intrigues and building a loyal fan base, Ericson has seen the appeal of her fast-paced and chilling thrillers spread to countless readers.

For information about Ericson's work.