An Unexpected Suitor

Anna Schmidt

Anna Schmidt is a two-time finalist for the coveted RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. Among her books nominated is Caroline and the Preacher, set in New York City and published by Steeple Hill. She was also a finalist in the inspirational category and the winner in the paranormal category of the Rising Star Award (Oklahoma) in 2001. In addition, her work has placed among the finalists in numerous other contests. Two of her other novels for Steeple Hill are A Mother for Amanda and The Doctor's Miracle. With over 15 works of historical and contemporary fiction published, Anna has also written four works of nonfiction about caring for older relatives and aging for AARP Books.

Anna began her writing career after receiving a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board and the National Endowment for the Arts to write a play about Holocaust survivors. She has taught at the college level, developed curricula for national university programs and been a popular speaker at workshops and seminars. She was the keynote speaker for the Association of University Professionals in Health Administration and for the Midwest Geriatric Conference. Anna has also spoken at writing seminars for the University of Wisconsin and is a perennial favorite at the Write Touch conference in Wisconsin. Her "day" job is with an international pharmaceutical company handling public and corporate communications for its U.S. affiliate.

Anna's writing projects include a historical novel about the female prisoners who settled Australia, a chick lit proposal and a screenplay based on the true story of the White Rose resistance movement in Germany during WWII. Her screenplay, entitled For Patriot's Dream, passed the first round of judging in the Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum 2003 Contest.