JACOBS, Anna 1941-

(Shannah Jay, Sherry-Anne Jacobs)

PERSONAL: Born 1941, in Rochdale, Lancashire, England; immigrated to Australia, 1973; daughter of a director of social services and a secretary; married an economist; children: two daughters. Education: B.A. (honors); graduate diploma in education; M.B.A. Politics: "Hate it!" Hobbies and other interests: Theater, reading, watching stimulating TV programs, meeting friends.

ADDRESSES: Home—Western Australia. Agent— International Scripts, 1 Norland Square, London W11 4PX, England. E-mail—anna@annajacobs.com.

CAREER: Writer. Formerly a teacher, a lecturer in adult technical college, and a human resources officer.

MEMBER: Novelists Inc., Australian Society of Authors, Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America, Romantic Novelists' Association of the United Kingdom.

AWARDS, HONORS: $10,000 prize, 1991, for Persons of Rank.

WRITINGS:

"GIBSON FAMILY" SERIES

Salem Street, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1994, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1995.

High Street, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1995, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1997.

Ridge Hill, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1996.

Hallam Square, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1996.

Spinner's Lake, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1997.

"KERSHAW SISTERS" SERIES

Our Lizzie, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1999, Thomas Dunne Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Our Polly, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 2001.

Our Eva, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 2003.

Our Mary Ann, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England, 2003.

OTHER HISTORICAL SAGAS

Jessie, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1998.

Like No Other, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1999.

Lancashire Lass, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 2000.

Seasons of Love, Severn House Publishers (Surrey, England), 2000.

A Forbidden Embrace, Severn House Publishers (London, England), 2001.

Lancashire Legacy (sequel to Lancashire Lass), Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 2001.

Replenish the Earth, Severn House Publishers (London, England), 2001.

Down Weavers Lane, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 2002.

Mistress of Marymoor, Severn House Publishers (London, England), 2002.

A Pennyworth of Sunshine, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 2003.

Change of Season, Severn House Publishers (London, England), 2003.

AS SHERRY-ANNE JACOBS

Persons of Rank, Random House (New York, NY), 1992, published as A Proper Match, Avid Press, 2000.

An Introduction to Romance Writing, Training Publications (Perth, Western Australia, Australia), 1998.

Plotting and Editing, Training Publications (Perth, Western Australia, Australia), 1998.

FANTASY FICTION; AS SHANNAH JAY

Quest, Pan Macmillan Australia (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1993.

Envoy, Pan Macmillan Australia (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1994.

Lands of Nowhere, Pan Macmillan Australia (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1995.

Shadow of the Serpent, Pan Macmillan Australia (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1995.

The Price of Wisdom, Pan Macmillan Australia (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1996.

Also author of Sword of Azaray (fantasy e-book for young adults), 1999, and Worlds Beyond (e-book short-story collection), 1999.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Twopenny Rainbows and Threepenny Dreams, sequels to A Pennyworth of Sunshine. Marrying Martha, historical romance, Return to Lancashire, a modern novel.

SIDELIGHTS: Anna Jacobs, who also writes under the pseudonyms Shannah Jay and Sherry-Anne Jacobs, is primarily an author of historical romances, although she has also written science fiction and fantasy under her Shannah Jay pseudonym. Jacobs, who was born in England but moved to Australia, uses both her native and her adopted country as settings for these romances. She "is undoubtedly queen of this genre in Australia," Sally Murphy wrote on Aussie Reviews online.

One of Jacobs' Regency romances, A Forbidden Embrace, features "nicely drawn characters, a well-crafted plot, and a keen, clear-eyed portrayal of the Regency social scene," Kristin Ramsdell wrote in Library Journal. The story begins in Lancashire, where twenty-year-old Cassie's mother has just died. Much to Cassie's dismay, her mother's will requires her to live with her relatives in London until Cassie turns twenty-one. Her only friend among those relatives, her shy cousin Susannah, is being pushed into a marriage with a man whom she does not love. Cassie decides to break up the engagement, but finds herself falling for this man instead. Reviewing this novel in Booklist, John Charles noted that "Jacobs demonstrates a true flair for the traditional regency," particularly through her "touches of dry wit and dashes of clever dialogue."

Jacobs told CA: "Stories well up inside me all the time—how could I not share them? I get up around 5:30 am, have a light snack and do e-mails—this usually includes several business or reader e-mails to answer. I then exercise in our own heated swimming pool, then I play cards on computer, which is my 'trick' for precipitating me into writing mode. It works. I've only to play a few games and my brain seems to settle into creativity. I then write for several hours, taking care to move about every hour or so. In the afternoon I may write some more or I may deal with business/PR/editing/proofreading/answering reader letters—whatever is needed.

"I write mainly about working-class women in the period 1730-1930. When I was studying history before I started writing I simply didn't believe the male historians' view of working-class women, who could never have been as unintelligent or passive as depicted then—since, there have been a whole generation of women historians remedying this defect. I come from working-class stock, you see. I have much less sympathy with upper-class heroines—unless they're poor! I also come from Lancashire, in the north-west of England and am proud of my native region, so wanted to set my books there. After immigrating to Australia, I wanted also to write about my new home. I'm now known in the U.K. as a 'northern writer' and am beginning to make my mark with Australian-set historicals as well. These would probably appeal to Americans, who have a similar colonial/settlers type of history."

Jacobs lists among her earlier influences the writing of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, but "now, I think I've found my own voice and stories," she told CA. Also speaking of changes in her writing, Jacobs told CA: "I hope I've improved my craft skills. I certainly try hard to do better each time. My first modern novel was well received and I hope to write more, though my focus will still be on historical sagas and romances."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 1, 1995, Denise Perry Donavin, review of Salem Street, p. 989; December 15, 1996, Melanie Duncan, review of High Street, p. 709; November 15, 2001, John Charles, review of A Forbidden Embrace, p. 559; February 15, 2002, John Charles, review of Replenish the Earth, p. 998; January 1, 2003, John Charles, review of Mistress of Marymoor, p. 858; August 1, 2003, Megan Kalan, review of Change of Season.

Books, February, 1996, review of Ridge Hill, p. 26.

Library Journal, November 15, 2001, Kristin Ramsdell, review of A Forbidden Embrace, p. 54.

Publishers Weekly, January 13, 1997, review of High Street, p. 56.

ONLINE

Anna Jacobs Home Page,http://www.annajacobs.com (December 13, 2002).

Aussie Reviews,http://www.aussiereviews.com/ (July 23, 2002), Sally Murphy, review of Lancashire Legacy.

Authors' Den,http://www.authorsden.com/ (July 23, 2002), interview with Jacobs.