Cathy Gillen Thacker

Cathy Gillen Thacker is a prolific American author, best known for her romance novels. She began her writing career while taking care of her small children, using her family's love stories as inspiration. After writing seven books and facing several rejections, Thacker's eighth novel was finally accepted and published in July 1982. Since then, she has published over 70 books, which have been translated into 15 languages and sold in over 35 countries.

Thacker's family has provided her with a wealth of material for her romance novels. Her maternal grandparents, who ran a business together and raised four daughters, were true partners and madly in love. Unfortunately, her grandfather passed away from cancer when he was in his early fifties, leaving her grandmother to grieve and then pick herself up to start a new career as a cafeteria chef. Eventually, she found deep romantic love and happiness again, in the form of a second marriage. Thacker's paternal grandmother also bucked tradition by focusing on a career as a court reporter and marrying a blind attorney. They were married for fifty-two years, and every year on their anniversary, he sent her a dozen red roses.

Thacker's own romance story is also noteworthy. She met her husband Charlie in high school while they were both in the marching band. Despite initial resistance, they eventually started dating and have been together ever since. They have weathered many challenges, including high school and college, marriage, kids, pets, career ups and downs, and even grandkids. Thacker's personal experiences have shaped her writing and have led her to believe that family is what matters most in life.

Thacker's novels are known for providing a few laughs, maybe a few tears, and a lot of love. She has written and published over 100 novels, many of which are out of print but are coming back in print via e-readers. Thacker is grateful for the support of her readers over the years and strives to make their day a little brighter with each book she writes.