Eileen Dreyer is an American author of contemporary romance, historical romance and suspense, and also publishes under the pen name Kathleen Korbel. She is a five-time winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award and in 1995 was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame.[1] In 2014, she competed on the TV game show Jeopardy!.

Eileen Dreyer
Dreyer at 2022 NInc
Dreyer at 2022 NInc
BornSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Pen nameEileen Dreyer
Kathleen Korbel
OccupationWriter, novelist
Period1986–present
Genrecontemporary romance, romantic suspense, Historical romance, paranormal romance,
Website
eileendreyer.com

Biography edit

Dreyer was born in St. Louis, Missouri and at the age of nineteen she began work as a trauma nurse.[2]

She is trained in forensic nursing and death investigation and lives in Brentwood, Missouri with her husband and children.[3] Her great-grandfather was a member of the IRA.[4]

She published her first novel as Kathleen Korbel in 1986, writing for Harlequin's Silhouette category imprint. She said that "as a trauma nurse...she enjoyed writing romance because she liked to see good things happen to people, and scripting the story, she could be sure of that."[5] Having grown up in a non-dysfunctional family, she said that working in the ER helped to show her the definition of a hero. "It constantly amazes me the people I've met who have had terrible things happen to them, but who live their lives well, loving and nurturing those around them. Those are my heroes. People who survive, who thrive, who triumph when there is no way they should."[2]

Dreyer was a contestant on the October 30, 2014, episode of Jeopardy!, though she didn't win.[5] She credited her ability to make it on the show and compete with reading a wide range of genres, but especially romance – "I think I picked up the best information from romance."[4] This was especially true for Final Jeopardy!. As she related in an interview, "So the Final Jeopardy! category was English Monarchs, and I had to place my bet before I knew the answer. I had $6,400 at the time. I bet $6,200 because I had a strong feeling after my own history with historical romance, I would know this one. The answer was, 'The name of two kings, fifth and eighth, who were notable for being king but not crowned.' (Cue music.) And yes, I knew that the two kings, one of the boys Richard III allegedly killed in the Tower, and the king who abdicated for Wallace Simpson, were named Edward. I didn't win. Unfortunately, the other two players knew it, too. But I knew the answer. And I knew it because I read and write historical romance."[4]

Bibliography edit

As Eileen Dreyer edit

Drake's Rakes edit

1. Barely a Lady. Grand Central. July 2010 [2010]. ISBN 9780446542081.
2. Never a Gentleman. Grand Central. April 2011 [2011]. ISBN 9780446542067.
3. Always a Temptress. Grand Central. October 2011 [2011]. ISBN 9780446542050.
3.5. It Begins with a Kiss. Grand Central. July 2012 [2012]. ISBN 9781455519316.
4. Once a Rake. Grand Central. November 2013 [2013]. ISBN 9781455519323.
5. Twice Tempted. Grand Central. November 2014 [2014]. ISBN 9781455519347.

Molly Burke edit

  1. Bad Medicine. HarperCollins. July 1995 [1995]. ISBN 9780061042768.
  2. Head Games. St. Martin's. March 2004 [2004]. ISBN 9780312265786.

Stand-alone works edit

Anthologies edit

  • Double Jeopardy. Pocket. May 1996 [1996]. ISBN 9780671896324. in Phyllis A. Whitney Presents Malice Domestic 5
  • Variations on a Theme. NAL. April 2000 [2000]. ISBN 9780451200099. in Mothers and Sons

As Kathleen Korbel edit

Daughters of Myth edit

Paranormal Romance

  1. Dangerous Temptation. Silhouette. October 2006 [2006]. ISBN 9780373617494.
  2. Dark Seduction. Silhouette. February 2008 [2008]. ISBN 9780373617814.
  3. Deadly Redemption. Silhouette. September 2008 [2008]. ISBN 9780373617944.

Stand-alone works edit

Anthologies and short stories edit

Awards and reception edit

  • 1987 - RT Bookclub named her Best New Contemporary Romance Author[3]
  • 1989 - Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Silhouette Desire for Hotshot
  • 1990 – Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Long Contemporary Series for The Ice Cream Man[6]
  • 1990 – Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Romantic Suspense for Perchance to Dream[6]
  • 1992 – Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Single Title Contemporary for A Man to Die For[6]
  • 1992 – Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Long Contemporary Series Romance for A Rose for Maggie[6]
  • 1993 – Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Series Romance Book of the Year for A Walk on the Wild Side
  • 1995 – Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Long Contemporary Series Romance for A Soldier's Heart[6]
  • 1996 – Anthony Award Nominee for Best Paperback Original for Bad Medicine
  • 2003 – Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Silhouette Intimate Moments for Some Men's Dreams
  • 2003 – Romance Readers Anonymous (RRA) Award for Some Men's Dreams
  • 2005 – Romantic Times Career Achievement Award Winner – Suspense[7]
  • 2010 – Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Historical for Barely a Lady

References edit

  1. ^ "MyRWA : Awards : RWA Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Interview: Eileen Dreyer, 'Once a Rake'". October 13, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "About Eileen | Eileen Dreyer". Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Eileen Dreyer: Everything I needed to know for Jeopardy! I learned from romance novels". November 25, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Pennington, Gail. "St. Louis author on 'Jeopardy'". stltoday.com. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e "MyRWA : RITA Awards : RITA Winners". Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  7. ^ "Suspense | RT Book Reviews". Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.

External links edit