Peters, Maureen 1935-

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PETERS, Maureen 1935-

(Veronica Black, Catherine Darby, Belinda Grey, Elizabeth Law, Levanah Lloyd, Judith Rothman, Sharon Whitby)

PERSONAL:

Born March 3, 1935, in Caernarvon, Wales; daughter of Harry (a steward) and Vera (Knight) Peters; married Malcolm Black (divorced); married George Ratcliffe, 1977 (marriage ended); children: (first marriage) Vincent, Martin Peters, Rachel Peters, Emily Peters. Education: University College of North Wales, B.A. and diploma of education, 1956. Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Hagiography, reading, the Tudor period, theater, public speaking, travel, tapestry work.

ADDRESSES:

Office—c/o Author Mail, Robert Hale Ltd., 45-47 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0HT, England.

CAREER:

Writer. Teacher of English to mentally challenged children in Birmingham and Southend-on-Sea, England, 1956-58.

MEMBER:

Romantic Novelists Association (founding member), Crosby Writers' Circle (member of committee, 1971—).

WRITINGS:

NOVELS

Elizabeth the Beloved, Robert Hale (London, England), 1965, Beagle (New York, NY), 1971.

Katheryn, the Wanton Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1967, Beagle (New York, NY), 1971.

Mary, the Infamous Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1968, Beagle (New York, NY), 1971.

Bride for King James, Robert Hale (London, England), 1968.

Joan of the Lilies, Robert Hale (London, England), 1969.

The Rose of Hever, Robert Hale (London, England), 1969, published as Anne, the Rose of Hever, Beagle (New York, NY), 1971.

Flower of the Greys, Robert Hale (London, England), 1969.

Princess of Desire, Robert Hale (London, England), 1970.

Struggle for a Crown, Robert Hale (London, England), 1970.

Shadow of a Tudor, Robert Hale (London, England), 1971.

Seven for St. Crispin's Day, Robert Hale (London, England), 1971.

The Cloistered Flame, Robert Hale (London, England), 1971.

The Woodville Wench, Robert Hale (London, England), 1972.

Jewel of the Greys, Robert Hale (London, England), 1972.

Henry VIII and His Six Wives (novelization of screenplay), St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1972.

The Peacock Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1972.

The Virgin Queen, Pinnacle (New York, NY), 1972.

The Queen Who Never Was, Pinnacle (New York, NY), 1972.

Royal Escape, Jones Blakey (Boston, Lincolnshire, England), 1972.

Destiny's Lady, Pinnacle (New York, NY), 1973.

The Gallows Herd, Robert Hale (London, England), 1973.

The Maid of Judah, Robert Hale (London, England), 1973.

Flawed Enchantress, Robert Hale (London, England), 1974.

So Fair and Foul a Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1974.

The Willow Maid, Robert Hale (London, England), 1974.

The Curse of the Greys, Robert Hale (London, England), 1974.

The Queenmaker, Robert Hale (London, England), 1975.

Kate Alanna, Robert Hale (London, England), 1975.

A Child Called Freedom, Robert Hale (London, England), 1975.

(Under pseudonym Judith Rothman) With Murder in Mind, Robert Hale (London, England), 1975.

The Crystal and the Cloud, Robert Hale (London, England), 1977.

Beggar Maid, Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1980.

I, the Maid, Robert Hale (London, England), 1980.

The Snow Blossom, Robert Hale (London, England), 1980.

Night of the Willow, Robert Hale (London, England), 1981, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1982.

Ravenscar, Robert Hale (London, England), 1981.

Song for a Strolling Player, Robert Hale (London, England), 1981.

Red Queen, White Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

Frost on the Rose, Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

Imperial Harlot, Robert Hale (London, England), 1983.

My Lady Troubadour, Robert Hale (London, England), 1983.

Lackland's Bride, Robert Hale (London, England), 1983.

(Under pseudonym Judith Rothman) Dark Gemini, Fontana (London, England), 1983.

Alianor, Robert Hale (London, England), 1984.

A Song for Marguerite, Robert Hale (London, England), 1984.

My Philippa, Robert Hale (London, England), 1984.

Fair Maid of Kent, Robert Hale (London, England), 1985.

Isabella, the She-Wolf, Robert Hale (London, England), 1985.

The Vinegar Seed, Robert Hale (London, England), 1986.

The Vinegar Blossom, Robert Hale (London, England), 1986.

The Vinegar Tree, Robert Hale (London, England), 1987.

The Luck-Bride, Robert Hale (London, England), 1987.

Lady for a Chevalier, Robert Hale (London, England), 1987.

My Catalina, Robert Hale (London, England), 1988.

The Noonday Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1988.

Incredible, Fierce Desire, Robert Hale (London, England), 1988.

Patchwork, Robert Hale (London, England), 1989.

The Sealed Knot, Walker and Co. (New York, NY), 1989.

Minstrel for a Valois, Robert Hale (London, England), 1989.

Witch Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1990.

Proud Bess, Robert Hale (London, England), 1990.

Much Suspected of Me, Robert Hale (London, England), 1990.

A Masque of Brontes, Robert Hale (London, England), 1991.

England's Mistress, Robert Hale (London, England), 1991.

The Flower of Martinique, Robert Hale (London, England), 1991.

Green Apple Burning, Robert Hale (London, England), 1993.

Verity, Robert Hale (London, England), 2002, Thorndike Press (Waterville, ME), 2003.

Also author of Wife in Waiting, 1989, The Love Knot, 1990, Child of Earth, 1999, Goodbye Holly Jane,, 2000, and Child of Fire, 2002.

UNDER PSEUDONYM VERONICA BLACK

Dangerous Inheritance, Robert Hale (London, England), 1969, Paperback Library (New York, NY), 1970.

Portrait of Sarah, Robert Hale (London, England), 1969, abridged edition, edited by Alice Sachs, Lenox Hill (New York, NY), 1970.

The Wayward Madonna, Lenox Hill (New York, NY), 1970.

Footfall in the Mist, Lenox Hill (New York, NY), 1971.

Master of Malcarew, Lenox Hill (New York, NY), 1971.

The Enchanted Grotto, Robert Hale (London, England), 1972.

Moonflete, Robert Hale (London, England), 1972.

Fair Kilmeny, Robert Hale (London, England), 1972.

Minstrel's Leap, Robert Hale (London, England), 1973.

Spin Me a Shadow, Robert Hale (London, England), 1974.

The House that Hated People, Robert Hale (London, England), 1974.

Tansy, Robert Hale (London, England), 1975.

Echo of Margaret, Robert Hale (London, England), 1978.

Greengirl, Robert Hale (London, England), 1979.

Pilgrim of Desire, Robert Hale (London, England), 1979.

Flame in the Snow, Robert Hale (London, England), 1980.

My Pilgrim Love, Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

The Dragon and the Rose, Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

Bond Wife, Robert Hale (London, England), 1983.

Lover Dark, Lady Fair, Robert Hale (London, England), 1983.

Hoodman Blind, Robert Hale (London, England), 1984.

Last Seen Wearing, Robert Hale (London, England), 1990.

Vow of Chastity, Robert Hale (London, England), 1991.

A Vow of Silence, Robert Hale (London, England), 1991.

My Name Is Polly Winter, Robert Hale (London, England), 1992.

Vow of Sanctity, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1993.

Vow of Penance, Tor (New York, NY), 1996.

Vow of Poverty, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1996.

Vow of Adoration, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1997.

Vow of Fidelity, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1997.

Vow of Compassion, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1998.

Vow of Devotion, G. K. Hall (Thorndike, ME), 1998.

Also author of Valentine, 1998.

UNDER PSEUDONYM CATHERINE DARBY

A Falcon for a Witch, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1975.

The King's Falcon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1975, published as A Game of Falcons, Robert Hale (London, England), 1976.

Fortune for a Falcon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1975.

Season of the Falcon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1976.

Falcon Royal, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1976, published as A Pride of Falcons, Robert Hale (London, England), 1977.

The Falcon and the Moon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1976.

Falcon Rising, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1976.

Falcon Sunset, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1976.

Whisper Down the Moon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1977.

Frost on the Moon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1977.

The Flaunting Moon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1977.

Sing Me a Moon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1977.

Seed of the Falcon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1978.

Falcon's Claw, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1978.

Falcon to the Lure, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1978.

Cobweb across the Moon, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1978.

Moon in Pisces, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1978.

A Dream of Fair Serpents, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1979.

Child of the Flesh, Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

Lass of Silver, Lad of Gold, Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

Rowan Garth, Robert Hale (London, England), 1982.

Rowan for a Queen, Robert Hale (London, England), 1983.

A Scent of Rowan, Robert Hale (London, England), 1983.

A Circle of Rowan, Robert Hale (London, England), 1983.

The Rowan Maid, Robert Hale (London, England), 1984.

Song of a Rowan, Robert Hale (London, England), 1984.

Sangreal, Robert Hale (London, England), 1984.

Sabre, Robert Hale (London, England), 1985.

Sabre's Child, Robert Hale (London, England), 1985.

The Silken Sabre, Robert Hale (London, England), 1985.

House of Sabre, Robert Hale (London, England), 1986.

Heart of Flame, Robert Hale (London, England), 1986.

A Breed of Sabre, Robert Hale (London, England), 1987.

Morning of a Sabre, Robert Hale (London, England), 1987.

Fruit of the Sabre, Robert Hale (London, England), 1987.

Gentle Sabre, Robert Hale (London, England), 1988.

Pilgrim in the Wind, Robert Hale (London, England), 1988.

The Love Knot, Robert Hale (London, England), 1989.

Zabillet of the Snow, Robert Hale (London, England), 1990.

Daffodil Anne, Robert Hale (London, England), 1991.

Also author of Falcon Tree, 1976, Daughter of Isis, 1981, and Glen of Frost, 1981.

UNDER PSEUDONYM BELINDA GREY

The Passionate Puritan, Mills & Boon (London, England), 1978.

Loom of Love, Mills & Boon (London, England), 1979.

Sweet Wind of Morning, Mills & Boon (London, England, 1979.

Moon of Laughing Flame, Harlequin (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 1980.

Daughter of Isis, Harlequin (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 1981.

Glen of Frost, Harlequin (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 1981.

Proxy Wedding, Mills & Boon (London, England), 1982.

Saraband for Sara, Mills & Boon (London, England), 1984.

UNDER PSEUDONYM ELIZABETH LAW

Double Deception, Walker and Co. (New York, NY), 1987.

A Scent of Lilac, Walker and Co. (New York, NY), 1988.

Regency Morning, Walker and Co. (New York, NY), 1988.

UNDER PSEUDONYM LEVANAH LLOYD

A Maid Called Wanton, Futura (London, England), 1981.

Mail Order Bride, Futura (London, England), 1981.

Cauldron of Desire, Futura (London, England), 1981.

Dark Surrender, Futura (London, England), 1981.

UNDER PSEUDONYM SHARON WHITBY

The Last of the Greenwood, Popular Library (New York, NY), 1975.

The Unforgotten Face, Robert Hale (London, England), 1975.

Also author of Here Be Dragons, 1980, The Silky, 1980, The Houseless One, 1981, No Song at Morningside, 1981, and Children of the Rainbow, 1983.

OTHER

Jean Ingelow, Victorian Poetess, Rowman & Littlefield (Totowa, NJ), 1972.

An Enigma of Brontes, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1974.

(Editor) Wife in Waiting, Robert Hale (London, England), 1988.

Flower Fairies Gardener's Year, Frederick Wayne, 2000.

(Coauthor) My Flower Fairies Baby Book, Penguin Putnum (New York, NY), 2000.

Contributor of articles and short stories to magazines.

SIDELIGHTS:

Maureen Peters is a prolific writer of historical romances, many of them set during the Tudor and Plantagenet periods of English history. "Peters appears to have a preference," wrote Sobhana Rowland in Twentieth-Century Romance and Historical Writers, "for strong, somewhat unconventional heroines who appear to prefer to shape events and make things happen rather than just act in conformity with the mores and rules of society—even if it results in the ruin of their own lives. Perhaps this is one reason why Peters has remained so popular with her fans."

Peters also received positive notice for Jean Ingelow: Victorian Poetess, a biography of a minor writer of the late nineteenth century whose children's works are still in print to this day. In Library Journal D. E. Litt called Peters's biography "a valuable book for calling our attention to a notable woman." The critic described Peters as "a thoughtful, sensitive biographer." Naomi Lewis in the Times Literary Supplement, although noting that Peters provides little new information about her subject, nonetheless observes that "if her book sends one back to the best of Jean Ingelow's work, it will have done some compensating service."

Peters once told CA that she writes everything in longhand, working eight to ten hours a day. She is interested in the influence of the past over the present, and her main objective is "to tell a good story."