A veteran of romance writing, USA Today best-selling author Carla Kelly is the author of forty-five novels and three non-fiction works, as well as numerous short stories and articles. She is the recipient of two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America for Best Regency of the Year; two Spur Awards from Western Writers of America; three Whitney Awards, 2011, 2012, and 2014; and a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times. Carla's interest in historical fiction is a byproduct of her scholar's study of history. Her variety of jobs include medical public relations work, feature writer and columnist for a North Dakota daily newspaper, and ranger in the National Park Service at Fort Laramie National Historic Site and Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. She has done contract research for the North Dakota Historical Society. Interest in the maritime Napoleonic Wars led to novels about the British Channel Fleet. Carla has also written novels set in Wyoming, and in the early twentieth century that focus on ranching. Her books have been translated into 18 languages.