Wordsmith: Glenna McReynolds/Tara Janzen
The Wordsmith: Glenna McReynolds/Tara Janzen
Glenna McReynolds, born Glenna Jean McReynolds on March 25, 1953, in Lewiston, Idaho, is an American author celebrated for blending romance, adventure, and fantasy. Raised in various U.S. regions with a special affection for the Rocky Mountain West, she studied graphic arts and photography at Colorado Mountain College, where she met her husband, Stan. The couple settled in Colorado, raising two children while Stan became an English teacher and Glenna pursued writing. She belongs to groups like Romance Writers of America, Colorado Romance Writers, and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Her work has earned a RITA Award from Romance Writers of America for Avenging Angel (1994), multiple Romantic Times awards (including Best Loveswept for Shameless in 1993 and a career achievement in Romantic Adventure in 1994), and other recognitions. McReynolds writes under the pseudonym Tara Janzen for her contemporary romantic suspense series, particularly the high-octane Steele Street books. She favors organic storytelling without rigid outlines, allowing plots to unfold naturally, and conducted on-site research in England and Wales for her medieval-inspired works.
Her Books (under Glenna McReynolds; publication order, focusing on key titles and series):
- Loveswept Category Romances (13 titles for Bantam, 1987–1990s): Includes Thieves in the Night (1987), Scout’s Honor (1987), Stevie Lee (1989), Dateline (1990), Blue Dalton (1990), Outlaw Carson (1991), Moonlight and Shadows (1991), The Courting Cowboy (1993), Avenging Angel (1993, RITA winner), Shameless (1993), The Dragon and the Dove (1994), Dragon’s Eden (1995), and others like A Wulf’s Tale.
- The Chalice Trilogy (epic medieval fantasy/romantasy): The Chalice and the Blade (1997), Dream Stone (1998), Prince of Time (2000/2001).
- Standalone/Other: River of Eden (2002, contemporary romantic adventure set in the Amazon rainforest, often regarded as a genre classic).
Books under the pseudonym Tara Janzen (primarily the Steele Street series of romantic suspense/action-adventure, with New York Times bestselling titles):
- Steele Street Series (12 books, Dell/Bantam, 2005–2020): Crazy Hot (#1, 2005), Crazy Cool (#2, 2005), Crazy Wild (#3, 2006), Crazy Kisses (#4, 2006), Crazy Love (#5, 2006), Crazy Sweet (#6, 2006), On the Loose (#7, 2007; aka Steele Street), Cutting Loose (#8, 2007), Breaking Loose (#9, 2008), Loose and Easy (#10, 2008), Loose Ends (#11, 2009), Crazy Hearts (#12, 2020).
Her output as Glenna McReynolds focuses on adventurous, sensual romances and fantasy, while Tara Janzen’s work shifted to fast-paced contemporary suspense. No new books have appeared in recent years under either name.
