For the love and joy of writing

“I think it's a terrible thing to write and not enjoy it. It's a sad thing. But of course a lot of people do work because they need to eat. And we all need to eat, but that's not the only reason to work. You couldn't have paid me not to write.” – Anne Perry

Born Juliet Marion Hulme in October, 1938, Perry is an English author of historical detective fiction.  Best known for her Victorian-era Thomas Pitt and William Monk series’, she started writing in the late 1970s with her first book, The Cater Street Hangman, introducing Pitt and starting a 32-book series featuring him and his wife Charlotte.  

She also has written 24 Monk books and a remarkable 96 books or novellas overall, including A Dark Tide Rising and A Christmas Revelation, both released this year.   None of her books has ever been out of print; many have been bestsellers in numerous countries; and more than 20 million copies are in print worldwide.

Also a popular speaker (primarily on the topic of the power and universality of storytelling), Perry said her mother taught her to read and write by age 4, and her father encouraged her to write things down and be creative.    While she encourages all writing styles, she is quick to share the one that works best for her.

“You start at the end, and then go back and write and go that way,” she said.  “Not everyone does, but I do. Some people just sit down at the page and start off. I start from what happened, including the why.”

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