Patricia Ryan is a successful American author, born on August 9, 1954, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She is known for her work in various genres, including romance, historical mysteries, and erotica. Writing under the pen names Patricia Ryan, P.B. Ryan, and Louisa Burton, she has published more than two dozen novels that have been well-received by critics and readers alike.
Before establishing herself as a writer, Ryan worked in the publishing industry in Rochester and New York City as an editor and marketing manager. Her experience in the industry proved valuable, as she went on to win several awards for her writing. In 1994, she received a Golden Heart Award and two Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards. Her book "Silken Threads" won the RITA Award, which is the top honor given by the Romance Writers of America, in the category of "Best Long Historical Romance" in 2000.
In addition to her romance novels, Ryan has also written a successful series of historical mysteries under the name P.B. Ryan. The Nell Sweeney series, set in post-Civil War Boston, has been well-received by critics and readers. One of the books in the series, "Murder in a Mill," received a nomination for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Ryan's novels have been published in over twenty countries, demonstrating the global appeal of her writing.