Jude Deveraux is a highly respected American author, best known for her romance novels that feature strong and capable heroines, set in various time periods with a particular focus on the 19th century, and often incorporating time travel elements. Born as Jude Gilliam on September 20, 1947, in Fairdale, Kentucky, she is the elder sister of four brothers. Deveraux attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art.
After getting married in 1967 and taking her husband's surname of White, they divorced four years later. She then worked as a 5th-grade teacher for several years before beginning her writing career in 1976. Her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977), was published under the name Jude Deveraux, and she subsequently resigned her teaching position to focus on writing. Over the course of her career, Deveraux has authored 31 New York Times bestsellers, including For All Time, Moonlight in the Morning, and A Knight in Shining Armor. She has won the hearts of readers with her epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men.
Deveraux's early works are predominantly set in 15th- and 16th-century England, featuring fierce and impassioned protagonists who find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are often portrayed as strong-willed and beautiful, with a focus on survival and family preservation. In addition to historical fiction, Deveraux has also ventured into contemporary and paranormal romance genres. Some of her notable contemporary works include High Tide, The Summerhouse, and The Mulberry Tree.
Jude Deveraux has faced personal tragedy, including the loss of her son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in a motorcycle accident in 2005. Despite this, she continues to write, with her works translated into numerous languages and more than sixty million copies in print worldwide. She has lived in several countries and various parts of the United States, and currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as in a medieval city in Italy called Badolato. In 2013, Deveraux was honored with a Romantic Times Pioneer Award for her distinguished career in romance writing.