Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of history fostered by her paternal grandmother and an incurable case of wanderlust inherited from her father. She has traveled extensively within the United States and has visited Mexico, Canada and Australia. In September 2003 she realized a lifelong dream with a trip to England, whetting her appetite for more visits to the British Isles.

When she was fourteen, her family moved from Pennsylvania to southern California and she has lived there since, except for a year at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Master's degree in Library Science. Currently, she lives in Anaheim with her husband of twelve years.

Linda joined Romance Writers of America and the Orange County Chapter in 1988. The following year she entered the chapter contest, and was surprised when that entry made the finals. Since then she has been a finalist in numerous contests. In 1994, Linda and her writing partner made the finals in RWA's prestigious Golden Heart contest. That manuscript was sold to Kensington Precious Gems and was published in 1998 as Private Affair by Lyn O'Farrell. Rogue's Hostage, Linda's first published historical romance, placed second in the 2002 Lories Contest for Historical Romance and won four stars and a Top Pick from Romantic Times. Rogue's Hostage is now nominated for a Reviewers' Choice Award from Romantic Times for Best Small Press Romance of 2003.

Lady Elinor's Escape is her first traditional Regency romance. It was a finalist in the Top O' The Trees competition sponsored by the Regency Plume.

You can write to her (SASE appreciated) at: P. O. Box 5137, Anaheim, CA. 92814 or e-mail liannemclaughlin@yahoo.com. You can also learn more about Linda by visiting her website: http://lindamclaughlin.com