Hailed as “a breakout talent!” and "a publishing phenomenon" by Publisher’s Weekly, Dara Joy has written eight consecutive New York Times and USAToday bestselling novels. Never content to rest on her past success, this novelist takes risks. In 1995, Dara Joy reinvented the science fiction romance crossover with her breakout first book, Knight of a Trillion Stars, which introduced multiple heroes and a highly evocative storyline. The book received countless awards, including the first Prism Award for Science Fiction Romance.

Knight of a Trillion Stars set a standard in the field and paved the way for the current trend. Her Matrix of Destiny series is acknowledged as a classic in SF/Rom literature (In recent years, the trilogy took the top three slots in the IOO Favorite Books of All Time on the web). For several years Dara was the only author publishing in this subgenre, keeping the subgenre alive. With worldwide fan support, Ms Joy illustrated to publishers that demand for these types of books is considerable. By example, her stellar sales, consistent top placement on every bestseller list, and her large, devoted readership convinced many publishing houses to explore this kind of crossover fiction.

With her second novel, HIGH ENERGY, Dara turned the tables again by writing a contemporary romantic comedy that proved equally successful. And so it went with each succeeding work, including the mind-bending, genre-defying RITUAL OF PROOF, a critically-acclaimed mainstream novel that examines social status and gender roles.

All of Ms Joy’s novels and anthologies are perpetually in print (for some of these works, an amazing twelve years post publication) and continually shelved at all major book chains. Dara's books are sold worldwide and have been translated into several languages, including German, Norwegian, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Russian.

TRACK RECORD

A CAREER OF FIRSTS

• Dara’s first four consecutive novels were in four completely different subcategories of genre- a first in an industry that, at the time, preferred authors stay within their established niches.
• Ms Joy was the first author to write in several different subgenres of romance without using different pen names, thus convincing publishers that a writer’s audience will follow that writer to all genres, as long as the writer delivers a good story. Ms Joy’s decision to do this helped open the field for many writers who were forced to adopt new personas when venturing into a new genre.
• Dara was the first author to bring Dorchester Publishing/Leisure Books onto the New York Times bestseller list in the twenty-five-year history of the company.
• Ms Joy was also the first author to bring Dorchester Publishing onto the USAToday bestseller list.

RITUAL OF PROOF, Dara's debut hardcover in fiction

• New York Times Hardcover bestseller list. The book sold so quickly that William Morrow/Harpercollins was forced to immediately go back to press in order to keep up with demand.
• Ritual of Proof was #1 Hardcover Nationwide at all Walden Book stores
• Hit the coveted #1 spot for paranormal fiction at Amazon.
• Amazon.com Best Seller List for all fiction in single digits months before it was published on the strength of its pre-orders alone.
• Ritual of Proof appeared on the NewYorkTimes INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLER list for all hardcover fiction.
• Amazon Movers and Shakers list, hardcover and paperback
• #2 Fantasy bestseller Amazon
• Barnes and Noble Bestseller- Paperback #7 out of 14, 282 titles
• Main selection DoubleDay Book Club
• DoubleDay large print edition
• Top Pick! Mainstream fiction-Romantic Times Book Club for Women

HIGH INTENSITY

• New York Times Bestseller
• USAToday bestseller - TOP FIFTY list, five weeks
• #2 Romance Bestseller Amazon.com
• Bestseller Top 100 list all fiction Amazon.com
• #3 Amazon Movers and Shakers list
• #6 WaldenBooks Bestseller, mass market list
• #4 at aol.com, all fiction
• #10 at hotmail.com, all fiction
• Barnes and Noble Top Ten Bestseller list
• Main selection DoubleDay Book Club
• Top Pick! Romantic Times Book Club

Awards:

          • Best Single Title Contemporary Romance Nomination Romantic Times

MINE TO TAKE

• Top Pick! Romantic Times Book Club
• New York Times Bestseller list
• USAToday Bestseller list
• Waldenbooks Bestseller list
• Amazon.com Bestseller list
• Barnes and Noble Bestseller list
• First print run sold out within a week of release
• #1 Ingram A list

Awards:

          • Bookstores that Care Network Best Paranormal Futuristic Romance (1998)
          • Bookstores that Care Network Award for Best Cover
          • Most Luscious Love Story of the Year from All About Romance
          • Favorite "Other" Romance for 1998 by such a large vote that no honorable mention was awarded that year from All About Romance
          • Saphire Award Finalist
          • Favorite Hero of 1998
          • Favorite Romance of the Year Honorable Mention All About Romance

TONIGHT OR NEVER

• Top Pick! Romantic Times Book Club
• New York Times Bestseller list
• USAToday Bestseller list
• Waldenbooks Bestseller list
• Amazon.com Bestseller list
• Barnes and Noble Bestseller list
• #3 Ingram A list – top 6 for six weeks straight

Awards:

          • Best Regency Historical
          • Bookstores that Care Network Best Regency Historical (1997)

REJAR

• Gold Medal, Romantic Times Magazine
• USAToday Bestseller list
• #2 Ingram A list
• Barnes and Noble Bestseller list – top 5
• Waldenbooks Bestseller list – top 5
• B. Dalton Bestseller list – top 5

Awards:

          • Nominated for Saphire Award
          • Winner of Holt Medallion
          • Best Paranormal Book of the Year
          • Bookstores that Care Award for Best Paranormal Romance (1997)

HIGH ENERGY

• USAToday Bestseller list
• Barnes and Noble Bestseller list
• Waldenbooks Bestseller
• B. Dalton Bestseller list
• Ingram A list – top 50
• Main Selection DoubleDay Book Club

KNIGHT OF A TRILLION STARS

• Ingram A list for 5 years running
• Barnes and Noble Bestseller list
• Waldenbooks Bestseller
• B. Dalton Bestseller list

      Awards:

          • Nominated for The Holt Medallion
          • Nominated Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award
          • "Best of 1995" Science Fiction Romance
          • Best Paranormal Romance by the Bookstores That Care Network
          • Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Certificate of Excellence (1995)
          • Saphire Award (1995), the Prizm award

OTHER AWARDS

• Romantic Times Career Achievement award
• RWA Honor Roll
• Slots 1, 2, and 3 for the 100 Best Loved Romance Books of all Time RBL Romantica for Knight of a Trillion Stars, Rejar, and Mine to Take

INDUSTRY QUOTES
Here is what members of the publishing industry are saying:

• "Dara Joy appeals to readers because she creates strong, believable characters and has a vital sense of dialogue. Those elements and the sensuality she is known for are what account for a dramatic increase in sales with every book."
-Publisher's Weekly

• "There is no one like her."
-Lou Aronica, (former) President of Avon Books

• "Whatever the next new trend is, Dara Joy will probably think of it first!"
-Kathryn Falk, Lady of Barrow, CEO of Romantic Times

• "The bright, shining star of author Dara Joy . . .who writes with wit, warmth and intelligence that has readers flocking . . . an electrifying talent!"
-Romantic Times Magazine

• "Joy excells at creating magical, fantastic surroundings. Dara Joy is a remarkable and unique talent."
-Writers Write

• "An author who skillfully hides subtext under inventive storytelling is, to me, a highly talented author... Her stories have a staying power that is incredible and every single time I got back to one of them, I find something new that jumps out at me. That is multi-layered."
-All About Romance

• "There is a... star in the genre who absolutely does not write books that are similar to any others and that is Dara Joy, an author who [was] literally an overnight success..."
-The Romance Reader

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

• "I'd crawl over broken glass to the mailbox if it would get me a Dara Joy book."
-Dawn H.

• "Dara Joy is one of the best storytellers in the world! She captures your attention and keeps you craving MORE!!!!"
-Laura Zimmermann

• "The ABSOLUTE best reading I've had in 20 years of an avid addiction. This woman knows what she's doing."
-Lisa Harvey

• "There are never enough Dara Joy books."
-Barbara Santiago

• "Her name on the cover is enough to make be buy it."
-Sarah

• "She has a genuine master-status talent for story telling."
-Amber Moses

• "I believe Dara Joy to be one of the most gifted talents of our age...."
-Teri Gomez

• "Every once and a while there appears upon the horizon of the bookworld an author that is destined to be one of the truly greats. Dara Joy is one of the best authors I have ever read."
-Susan P. Sills

• "She weaves a story like a spider weaves a web."
-Linda

• "Fantasy thy name is Dara Joy."
-Margrit Simkins

• "Dara writes the way I dream."
- Lauren Gunhus

• "Dara Joy's books are spellbinding. You do not want to put them down for one second."
-Sheila

Dara has been inducted into the Romance Writers of America's “Honor Roll,” an exclusive list which honors top authors in the romance field. She is an active member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, as well as the Author’s Guild.

Dara’s website, wwwOfficialDaraJoy.com, blazed new ground as well. Going online in June of 2000, the website wowed readers with a spearheading vision that, like her books, broke all the rules, and set a trend for many other sites. Intentionally designed to have a 'garage shop, start-up' feel, bright with intense colors, offbeat graphics, and a just-for-fun atmosphere, it showcases popular fantasy artists, such as Michael Whelan, Don Maitz, and Boris Vallejo, and techno, underground music. Dara and her web designer create worlds for her fans to enter online. With castle rooms, messages boards, and a unique roleplaying room, the website’s popularity continues to rise, receiving millions of hits a month from over 100 countries worldwide.

Artwork by Ruth Sanderson

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