Sabrina Jeffries (born 1958) is an American author of romance novels, who also writes under the pen names Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas.[1][2]Entertainment Weekly calls her "one of the long-reigning leading voices in historical romance."[3]
Early life
When Jeffries was seven years old, her parents became missionaries and moved the family to Thailand where they lived for eleven years.[4] She began making up her own stories when she was twelve.[4]
Jeffries earned a Ph.D. in English, writing her dissertation on James Joyce.[1]
Career
While serving as a visiting assistant professor of English at Tulane University, Jeffries attempted to develop an academic work from her dissertation.[4] Bored with this attempt, she began writing a romance novel instead.[4]
After realizing that she enjoyed writing more than teaching, Jeffries left the academic world to work as a technical writer, while writing novels at night.[4] Although her first attempt did not sell, after ten rejections Jeffries's second book was finally picked up by Leisure.[5]
She has published historical romances as both Sabrina Jeffries and Deborah Martin, and contemporary paranormal romantic suspense as Deborah Nicholas.[1]
Her novels Beware a Scot's Revenge and Let Sleeping Rogues Lie became New York Times Bestsellers.[1]
Awards
HOLT Best Long Historical, Virginia Romance Writers for The Dangerous Lord (2000)
Maggie Award for Best Historical Romance for The Dangerous Lord (2000)
Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Best Historical Romance for A Notorious Love (2001)
HOLT Medallion Contest for Best Short Historical, Virginia Romance Writers for In the Prince’s Bed (2004)
Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for Best Historical Fiction for To Pleasure a Prince (2005)
Best Historical K.I.S.S. Hero Award from RT Book Reviews for To Pleasure a Prince (2005)
More than Magic award for Best Historical for One Night with a Prince (2005)
More than Magic award for Best Historical for Never Seduce a Scoundrel (2006)
Winter Rose Award for Excellence in Romantic Fiction for Never Seduce a Scoundrel (2006)
Maggie Award Winner for Best Historical for Only a Duke Will Do (2006)
K.I.S.S. Award Winner from RT Book Reviews for Don’t Bargain with the Devil (2009)