Dorothy Garlock is a celebrated American author, renowned for her historical and contemporary romance novels. Born in Texas, she spent a significant part of her life in Oklahoma City before moving to Iowa in 1955. Prior to her writing career, Garlock worked as a bookkeeper and columnist for a local newspaper.
Garlock's journey to authorship began with a collection of four manuscripts, which she had written before attempting to get them published. She entered a contest, and although she did not win, the exposure helped her sell her manuscripts. This marked the beginning of her successful career as an author. Today, over 20 million copies of her novels are in print, available in 18 different languages across 36 countries.
Garlock is best known for her historical romance novels, the majority of which are set in the American West. She has also written under various pseudonyms, including Dorothy Glenn, Dorothy Philips, and Johanna Phillips. Her works have been incredibly successful, appearing on the New York Times bestseller list seven times. Garlock's significant contributions to women's fiction have been recognized with several accolades, including being named one of the 10 most popular writers of women's fiction for four consecutive years from 1985 to 1988. In 1997, she was awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.
Throughout her career, Garlock has worked in various roles within the publishing industry, serving as an editor, agent, and publicist. She is a prolific writer, with over 60 historical romance novels to her name. Despite her success, Garlock remains humble and dedicated to her craft. She has donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries, ensuring her work will be preserved for future generations. Garlock continues to reside in Clear Lake, Iowa, where she continues to write and contribute to the literary world.