SHIRLEY HAILSTOCK

Whispers of Love, Shirley's debut novel, was published in September, 1994. The romantic suspense received critical acclaim from the Gothic Journal, Romantic Times Magazine, Affaire de Couer, Rendezvous and Booklist. Whispers of Love, winner of the HOLT Medallion from the Virginia Romance Writers, is now in its 4^th printing and recently was optioned for a television movie of the week. Clara's Promise, Shirley's first historical romance, won the Utah Romance Writers Heart of the West Award. White Diamonds , (August 1996) was nominated for a Romantic Times Award as the Best Multicultural Romance of 1996. Additionally, Romantic Times presented Shirley with a Career Achievement Award and her novel, Legacy, received the Waldenbooks Award for Bestselling Multicultural Romance. Legacy was also recently listed as one of the 100 Greatest Romance Novels of the 20th Century. Her next book, You Made Me Love You will be released in Januray 2005.

Shirley has been a member of the Romance Writers of America since 1988 and served on the national board Regional Director, RITA Contest Chairperson, Golden Heart Contest Chairperson, Publicity Chairperson and Industry Statistic Chairperson and president. Romance Writers of America is the largest genre writing organization in the world. Shirley was previously president of the New Jersey Romance Writers and she is an officer of Women Writers of Color. She writes contemporary and historical romance and mainstream women's fiction.

Living in Central New Jersey, Shirley has been an Adjunct Professor of Accounting at Rutgers University, New Brunswick campus and taught Novel Writing at Middlesex County College. She enjoys traveling to many of her settings and if there is time at the end of the day she likes to sew, play tennis and read.