Janelle Diane Williams, known by her pen name Janelle Taylor, was born in Athens, Georgia, on June 28, 1944. She is a celebrated author, having written 39 novels, three novellas, and various contributions to other collections. Taylor's works have been featured on The New York Times Bestseller List eight times and on the "1 million +" bestseller's list at Publisher's Weekly ten times. Her novels have captivated readers worldwide, with over 39 million copies in print.
Taylor's writing career began in 1977 when she attended the Medical College of Georgia. She later transferred to Augusta State University in 1980 but withdrew after selling her first two novels. Her personal interests include collecting spoons, coins, ship models, dolls, and old books. She is also an avid fan of fishing, horseback riding, playing chess, target shooting, traveling, hunting for Indian relics, and taking long walks with her husband. Reading is another favorite pastime, with a particular interest in books set before 1900 and current biographies, thrillers, horror, or fantasy novels.
In addition to her writing, Taylor is an active volunteer with charity work. She has been featured on the cover of Diabetes Forecast and has written a book about a diabetic heroine, using her own diabetes as research. Taylor is also passionate about supporting Lakota Indian children, as evidenced by her two series about the Lakota people. She has been honored as a "Pioneers of The Romance Industry" by RT and as one of the "Legends of Romance" in 2013. Taylor is a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the outdoors. She currently resides in the country on 79 acres of woods and pasture, where she writes her novels in a Spanish cottage overlooking a five-acre lake and a working water mill.