Diana Palmer is the popular pen name of American author Susan Kyle, who is well-known for her romance novels. Born in South Georgia, she was given the name Susan Eloise Spaeth at birth, and developed a love for cowboys and reading at an early age. Before becoming a published author, Palmer worked in journalism for 16 years at the Gainesville Times and Tri-County Advertiser. She has been a prolific writer since 1979, and has written romances under the names Katy Currie, Diana Blayne, and Susan Kyle.
Susan Kyle, or Diana Palmer, was born to Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Palmer's mother was part of the women's liberation movement, and her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole). She grew up in a family that valued education and social justice, which has influenced her writing.
Palmer has been married to James Kyle since 1972, and they have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980. The author has sold millions of copies of her books worldwide, and has received numerous awards for her writing, including seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, and several Affaire de Coeur awards.
In addition to her writing, Palmer is an avid learner and has a deep appreciation for history, archaeology, anthropology, astronomy, and music. She is also a member of several conservation and charitable organizations, and is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. Palmer's hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy, and music.
Palmer's love for cowboys can be traced back to reading Zane Grey growing up. Her largest series is the Long, Tall Texans series, but she has several other series, including Soldiers of Fortune, Hutton & Co. and Men of Medicine Ridge. She currently lives in Georgia with her family, where she continues to write and pursue her various interests.