Shantal Marie LaViolette, who often goes by the pen name S.M. LaViolette, is a bestselling author known for her work in the genres of paranormal romance, gay romance, and historical romance fiction. Originally from Canada, she now resides in the mountains of New Mexico. LaViolette began her writing career in 2013, after the failure of her bed and breakfast business.
In addition to writing as S.M. LaViolette, she also publishes historical romance and historical erotic romance under her full name, Shantal Marie LaViolette. She is also known for her historical mystery writing under the name S.M. Goodwin. LaViolette's writing often features heroes and heroines who break the mold, with stories that are described as dark, angsty, and witty.
LaViolette has had a varied and diverse career, including work as a criminal prosecutor, college history teacher, and bed and breakfast operator. She has also held a number of unusual jobs, including dock worker, ice cream manufacturer, reader for the blind, and motel maid. Despite her claims, she has never actually worked as a bounty hunter.
LaViolette has a wide range of skills and hobbies, including the ability to hypnotize a Dungeness crab, sew her own Regency Era clothing, knit a frog hat, juggle, rebuild a 1959 American Rambler, and gain control of Asia in the game of RISK. She enjoys writing romance novels that feature uncommon protagonists and exciting, unusual situations.
LaViolette's latest releases include "BALTHAZAR: THE SPARE, Book 1 in THE HALES: AMERICANS IN LONDON," a new Victorian romance series released in May 2023. She also has new books in her "WILD WOMEN OF WHITECHAPEL" series coming out in May and October 2023. Readers can learn more about LaViolette and her work at her website.