Faulkner, Colleen 1962(?)- (Hunter Morgan)

PERSONAL:

Born c. 1962; daughter of Judith E. French (an author); married; children: four. Hobbies and other interests: Girls' fast-pitch softball.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Southern DE. Agent—Evan Marshall, The Evan Marshall Literary Agency, 6 Tristam Pl., Pine Brook, NJ 07058-9445. E-mail—hunter@huntermorgannovels.com.

CAREER:

Writer.

MEMBER:

Romance Writers of America, Authors Guild.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Diamond Award, from the state of Delaware, for literary excellence.

WRITINGS:

Forbidden Caress, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1987.

Raging Desire, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1987.

Snowfire, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Traitor's Caress, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Passion's Savage Moon, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Temptation's Tender Kiss, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Love's Sweet Bounty, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Patriot's Passion, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Savage Surrender, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Sweet Deception, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Flames of Love, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 1993.

Forever His, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1993.

(With others) Spellbound Kisses (novella), Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 1993.

Captive, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1994.

(With others) To Love and to Honor (novella), Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 1995.

O'Brian's Bride, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1995.

(With others) A Christmas Embrace (novella), Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 1995.

(With others) After Midnight (novella), Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 1995.

Destined to Be Mine, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1996.

(With others) Deck the Halls (novella), Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 1996.

To Love a Dark Stranger, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Fire Dancer, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Angel in My Arms, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Once More, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1998.

If You Were Mine, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Hannah Howell and Judith E. French) Castle Magic (novella), Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 1999.

Highland Bride, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2000.

Marrying Owen, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Taming Ben, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2000.

Tempting Zack, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2000.

Maggie's Baby, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2000.

Highland Lady, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2001.

Highland Lord, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Adrienne Basso and Debbie Raleigh) Only with a Rogue (novella), Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2002.

A Shocking Request, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Barefoot and Pregnant?, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Many of Faulkner's works have been translated into Bulgarian, German, Norwegian, Dutch, Russian, French, and Chinese.

AS HUNTER MORGAN

The Other Twin, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 2003.

She'll Never Live, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2004.

She'll Never Know, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2004.

She'll Never Tell, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2004.

What She Can't See, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2005.

Unspoken Fear, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2006.

Are You Scared Yet?, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

Writer Colleen Faulkner, who also publishes under the pseudonym Hunter Morgan, is the author of more than forty historical romance novels, the first of which she sold to Kensington Books when she was just twenty-four. The daughter of best-selling novelist Judith E. French, Faulkner grew up with writing in her blood. A member of the Authors Guild and the Romance Writers of America, she has won a number of awards over the course of her career, including "The Diamond Award" for literary excellence, which she received from her home state of Delaware. Faulkner is involved in the promotion of her works, having appeared on the QVC homeshopping network to sell her books, and between the covers of Southern Living magazine.

Set in Colonial America on the cusp of the Revolution, O'Brian's Bride follows the relationship of newly widowed Elizabeth Lawrence, left to run the family black powder factory when her husband is killed in an explosion, and her new foreman, handsome Irishman Michael Patrick O'Brian. O'Brian's timely arrival saves Elizabeth from having to marry her brother-in-law. He helps her take over the business and sparks new feelings in her that she finds irresistible. But when the colonies begin to revolt against England in earnest, Elizabeth and Michael must work together to determine who is now their enemy. Romantic Times Online contributor Kathe Robin opined that the book "simmers with sensuality as Elizabeth and O'Brian slowly build their relationship from one of animosity to one of great and lasting passion."

To Love a Dark Stranger takes place in England in 1662. Aptly titled, the book follows Margaret, Lady Surrey, as she escapes her marriage into the arms of a highwayman. The wife of Lord Randall, Margaret has suffered an abusive relationship at the hands of both her husband and his brother, the Earl of Rutledge, each of whom is oddly deformed. When Margaret gives birth to her first child, her husband kills the boy for being born with imperfections. Heartbroken, Margaret kills her husband with the knife he used on her child, and flees rather than risk the wrath of the Earl. Rescued on the road to London by the mysterious Captain Scarlet, a known highwayman, Margaret finds herself thrown into Newgate prison with the man when his plan for keeping them safe backfires. Eventually they escape, and Margaret, using her maiden name of Meg Drummond, begins to transform into a stronger, more self-assured woman, thanks in part to the efforts of Scarlet. But each of them is running from the past, and as is common in such stories, the past must inevitably catch up with them. Lizabelle Cox, in a review for Romantic Times Online, concluded that "Faulkner blends the darkness and beauty of human nature to create a haunting love story, liberally sprinkled with intrigue, adventure and laughter."

Faulkner's If You Were Mine takes place in Nevada Territory during the 1860s. Mercy Atkins saw her vi- cious husband off to war and now hopes that he will never return. Determined to make her own life, despite being left behind in a ramshackle town filled with her ill-tempered in-laws, Mercy sets out to run the Tin Roof Hotel, with just her small son and her father for assistance. Noah Erikson is a widower and a gunslinger, hired on by the bank for protection, and he becomes the first guest at the Tin Roof. Caught up in his own personal misery, he has no intention of being drawn in by Mercy's charms, but soon finds her warmth and determination is winning him over. When he goes out of his way to rescue her father, the bond is sealed. Together they must face the changing face of the town when the discovery of silver nearby brings a host of new elements to its streets. Anne Black, in a review for Romantic Times Online, dubbed the book a "powerful love story that has breath-taking pace and villains who will make your skin crawl."

Highland Lady recounts the romance of Elen Burnard of Dunblane and Munro Forrest, Earl of Rancoff, a couple that never should have been due to the ancient feud between their families over land. Elen lives during a time when women have no rights, and yet, when her father dies, he names her the Laird of Dunblane, also charging her with petitioning for the return of other family lands he claims were stolen by the Forrests years before. The Forrests fight back, kidnapping Elen's sister, and Elen must stand strong and fight for her family. When she herself decides to kidnap Munro Forrest, she plans merely to hold him for an exchange in order to retrieve her sister. However, he soon discovers her feelings for Munro are not at all what they should be for her oldest enemy. Romantic Times Online reviewer Anne Black opined that "Scotland is a perfect backdrop for these warm, inspiring characters and their legendary passion."

In Highland Lord, Faulkner tells the story of Anne de Bruce, the illegitimate daughter of King Robert the Bruce who has been raised as the ward of Munro Forrest, whom readers met previously in Highland Lady. Anne is of an age to marry and as such, understands that it is her duty to take as a husband whatever man her father chooses for her. She is fully prepared to do as commanded, but while awaiting her father's pleasure, she finds her own intentions thwarted by a Viking named Tor Henneson. On her deathbed, Tor's mother asked her sons to locate their birth father, and so that is what Tor has set out to do, though he feels no need to locate the man who abandoned them all. Locating Munro, however, he discovers the man is not what he had expected. Nor did he expect to find Anne of Bruce. While Tor's brother settles easily into Scottish life, Tor finds himself anxious to return to the world he knows. Only his growing feelings for Anne keep him from returning immediately to his Viking ways. Anne Black, reviewing for Romantic Times Online, remarked that "Faulkner does the difficult, revisiting a told story, with deft handling and superb suspense."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Publishers Weekly, July 21, 2003, review of The Other Twin, p. 180; April 23, 2007, review of Are You Scared Yet?, p. 35.

ONLINE

Historical Romance Writers Web site,http://www.historicalromancewriters.com/ (May 19, 2008), author profile.

Hunter Morgan Home Page,http://www.huntermorgannovels.com (May 19, 2008).

Romance Reader Web site,http://www.theromancereader.com/ (May 19, 2008), Ellen Hestand, review of Once More.

Romantic Times Online,http://romantictimes.com/ (May 19, 2008), Kathe Robin, review of O'Brian's Bride; Lizabelle Cox, reviews of Destined to Be Mine and To Love a Dark Stranger; Teresa Roebuck, reviews of Maggie's Baby, Tempting Jack, Marrying Owen, and Taming Ben; Anne Black, reviews of Fire Dancer, Angel in My Arms, Once More, If You Were Mine, Highland Bride, Highland Lady, and Highland Lord; Kren Matheney, review of A Shocking Request; Cindy Harrison, review of Barefoot and Pregnant?