fiction.wikisort.org - Writer

Francis Ray (July 20, 1944 – July 3, 2013) was a New York Times and USA Today bestselling[1] African-American writer of romance novels. Her literary fiction series – Taggart and Falcon, the Invincible Women, Grayson Family of New Mexico, and Grayson Friends – consistently made bestsellers' lists. She lived in Dallas, Texas.[2]

Biography

She was born in Richland, Texas, and studied nursing, receiving a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University in 1967.[3] She began writing in 1987, while continuing to work as a nurse, and had her first book published in 1992.[3] Ray was inspired to write after reading one of Kathleen Woodiwiss's books.[4] She was also inspired by J. California Cooper's writings.[5]

In 1995, she co-founded the Romance Slam Jam, which was an author-reader conference and first launched in Texas.[6]

Work

Ray's stories are character-driven and Ray spent time fleshing out full stories for the characters in her books, including their childhoods.[4] She feels that writing romance is often more emotionally difficult than for other genres because while the characters must have conflict, the resolution needs to be solved in a way that readers know "that the couple will stay together no matter what".[7] It was also important to her to include "accurate realistic portrayals of African Americans" rather than stereotypes.[4]

In 1999, Ray's novel, Incognito, was adapted by Black Entertainment Television (BET) for broadcast.[4]

She helped make the Arabesque imprint, which was owned by BET and dedicated to African-American romance, a success.[1] In 2004, she and other authors were celebrated for their contributions to Arabesque which is now owned by Kimani.[8]

Fiction

• Fallen Angel – 1992 reissue 2003 (Odyssey Books/St. Martin's Press)
• Undeniable – 1995 (Kensington/Arabesque)
• The Bargain – 1995 (Kensington)
• Incognito – 1996 (Arabesque Bet's first made-for-TV movie in 1999)
• Silken Betrayal – 1995 (Arabesque)
• I Know Who Holds Tomorrow – 2002 (St. Martin's)
• Rockin' Around That Christmas Tree – 2003 (St. Martin's)
• Spirit of the Season (Sarah's Miracle novella) – 1994 (Kensington/Arabesque)
• Rosie's Curl and Weave (The Awakening novella) – 1999 (St. Martin's Press)
• Winter Nights (Until Christmas novella) – 1998 reissue 2004 (Kensington/Arabesque)
• Della's House of Style (A Matter of Trust novella) – 2000 (St. Martin's)
• Welcome to Leo's (novella) – 2000 (St. Martin's)
• Going to the Chapel (Southern Comfort novella) – 2001 (St. Martin's)
• Getting Merry (The Wish novella) – 2002 (St. Martin's)
• Living Large (Strictly Business novella) – 2003 (NAL)
• Whole Lotta Love (That Wright Woman novella) – 2004 (NAL)
• Let's Get it On (Blind Date novella) – 2004 (St. Martin's)
• Big Girls Don't Cry (His Everything Woman novella) – 2005 (NAL)
• How Sweet the Sound (Then Sings My Soul novella) – 2005 (Harlequin)
• Chocolate Kisses (novella) – 2006 (Signet)
• On the Line (novella) – 2007 (Sepia)
• Twice the Temptation – 2010 (St. Martin's Press)

Series/Related Titles Grayson Friends Series

• The Way You Love Me – September 2008 (St. Martin's)
• Nobody But You – March 2009 (St. Martin's)
• One Night With You – November 2009 (St. Martin's)
• It Had To be You – April 2010 (St. Martin's)
• A Seductive Kiss – January 2012 (St. Martin's)
• Just With a Kiss – February 2012 (St. Martin's)
• A Dangerous Kiss – June 2012 (St. Martin's Press)
• All I Ever Wanted – February 2013 (St. Martin's Press)
• All of My Love – May 2013 (St. Martin's Press)
• All That I Need – June 2013 (St. Martin's Press)
• All That I Desire – Rio's book October 2013 (St. Martin's Press)

Invincible Women Series

• Like the First Time – May 2004 (St. Martin's)
• Any Rich Man Will Do – September 2005 (St. Martin's)
• In Another Man's Bed – February 2007 (St. Martin's)
• Not Even if You Begged – February 2008 (St. Martin's)
• And Mistress Makes Three – July 2009 (St. Martin's)
• If You Were My Man – March 2010 (St. Martin's)

Taggart/Falcon Series

• Forever Yours – July 1994(Pinnacle Books)(reissued March 2010 )
• Only Hers – April 1996 (reissued August 2004 in a 3-in-1 edition entitled Falcon Saga)
• Break Every Rule – August 1998 (reissued August 2004 in a 3-in-1 edition entitled Falcon Saga)
• Heart of the Falcon – April 2000 (reissued August 2004 in a 3-in-1 edition entitled Falcon Saga)

The Graysons of New Mexico Series

• Until There Was You – April 2000 (reissued November 2008 )
• You and No Other – March 2005 (St. Martin's)
• Dreaming of You – September 2006 (St. Martin's)
• Irresistible You – March 2007 (St. Martin's)
• Only You – October 2007 (St. Martin's)

Against the Odds Series

• Trouble Don't Last Always – February 2004 (reissue of The Turning Point from April 2001)
• Somebody's Knocking at My Door – May 2003

Family Affair/Hidden Legacy Series

• I Know Who Holds Tomorrow – April 2002 reissue October 30, 2012
• When Morning Comes – June 2012
• After the Dawn – June 2013

Awards

• Romantic Times Career Achievement
• EMMA
• The Golden Pen
• The Atlantic Choice
• Romantic Times 2008 Reviewers' Choice Award Winners for AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE Reviewers' Choice Awards – Best Books Not Even If You Begged, St. Martin's Griffin (February 2008)
• Borders 2008 Bestselling Multicultural Romance Award for Nobody but You
• Written's 2010 Readers Choice Book of the Year for If You Were My Man

Screen adaptations

• Incognito: TV 1999

References

External links

• Official site
• Francis Ray Page at Macmillan Publishers.
• Francis Ray at IMDb
• Interview

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