Jennifer Wilde (January 8, 1938 - January 16, 1990)

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Tom Elmer Huff (January 8, 1938 - January 16, 1990) was a best-selling American author of romance novels under the pen names Jennifer Wilde, Edwina Marlow, Beatrice Parker, and Katherine St. Clair.

Huff spent several years as a high-school English teacher before becoming a novelist. He wrote gothic novels for nine years under the pseudonyms Edwina Marlow, Beatrice Parker, and Katherine St. Clair.

In 1976, Huff adopted the pseudonym Jennifer Wilde when he began writing historical romance novels. His first release, Love's Tender Fury, had 41 printings in its first five years, and his second historical romance, Dare to Love, spent 11 weeks on the New York Times paperback bestseller list. His historical romances were noted for being written in first-person, from the heroine's perspective. Many of his books also featured multiple male protagonists, and "the man who first captures the heroine's heart isn't always the one who ends up with it."

Huff earned a Career Achievement Award in 1987-1988 from Romantic Times.

He passed away at January 16, 1990.

"No, Jennifer's the one with the cigarette." Texas novelist Tom Elmer Huff, posed with his mother, Beatrice, in his first public portrait. He became Jennifer Wilde in 1975 when he took to writing historical romances. Huff was only one among many male writers who had wooed romance readers by adopting prettier names, but he is by far the most popular of the bunch.

"In college I wrote trenchant, deep, profound epics," said the soft-voiced, cordial author, whom friends described as a witty "Noel Coward type." Then, he said, "I grew up."

The former high school English teacher, who spent nine years writing gothics under other female pseudonyms before becoming Jennifer, made his arch, sharp-tongued heroines the first-person chroniclers of their exploits ("I forced a lilting, flirtatious tone"), but he insisted that the books "aren't the real Tom Huff. I don't take the genre seriously-but I take my work seriously." He researched laboriously and wrote and rewrote in a tidy workroom in the Fort Worth home he shared with his mother.

"Each book took longer and longer. I've become more painstaking, more professional." There are "mandatory heavy-breathing scenes," of course, "but I don't write down to readers. I'd rather take the time and do it good."" (Excerpt from Life Magazine)

First Book - The Master of Phoenix Hall (1968) as Edwina Marlow: The Master of Phoenix Hall

Last Book - They Call Her Dana (1989): They Call Her Dana

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Wilde


Cover Art by James Griffin for Susannah, Beware by T.E. Huff

Comments

Confession

[pabrown.livejournal.com]

I'm going to confess back in my faded youth I used to love this kind of book, Loves Tender Fury was my favorite of Wilde's books. The other author I was crazy about was Rosemary Rogers Sweet Savage Love. There, I've revealed one of my dirty little, and very embarrassing, secrets. LOL.

Re: Confession

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's a secret common to many of us: mine was The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey! Elisa

Re: Confession

[pabrown.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, I forgot that one. The Wolf and the Dove, The Flame and the Flower. I feel guilty just listing them. LOL.

Re: Confession

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Guilty pleasure. But I think they helped women, somehow. Elisa

[minami77.livejournal.com]

ma cara Elisa, devo dire che sono rimasta shockata quando ho letto questo tuo post, non mi sarei mai immaginata che Jennifer Wilde fosse un uomo!
E pensa che proprio ieri sera parlavo di te e ti citavo in mertio alla questione di leggere romanzi rosa in pubblico di cui avevi fatto un post qualche tempo fa.

Al solito grazie per le tue schede, scopro sempre qualocsa di nuovo ed interessante.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Si, la vera identità di Jennifer Wilde è stata una scoperta scioccante per molti suoi lettori, ed ancora adesso molti non lo sanno. Elisa

[lilygcs.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed reading Jennifer Wilde's books although I never knew she was a man. My favorite however was The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. There were many I enjoyed but that one I loved!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Jennifer Wilde's real identity was for many years a well-kept secret. I think the first time he "came" out officially was with the release of Love's Leading Ladies in 1982, a series of interviews with the queens of the romance genre and Huff wrote the preface since he couldn't possibly being among the ladies. Elisa

[bornof-sorrow.livejournal.com]

This made me smile so much. I LOVE that story. I remember sneaking it from my mum's room when I was about 14 and reading it.

I adore romance writing and I don't care how other people mock me :DDD

Plus - what a great title!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You are not the first to tell me that they stole this book from their mother's room. Must be really a "forbidden" book ;-) Elisa

[bornof-sorrow.livejournal.com]

Yes! I remember she wasn't pleased with me when she found out but it was worth it.

Now she steals books from me and I have to warn her they might be a bit racy!

Sexy books FTW

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

My mother still complains for the covers on my books, and she says that the postman looks at her strange (sometime the package are open and you can see the content). LOL I said to her to not care. Elisa