Romance Author

The author of six novels, Kate Coscarelli, did not start writing books until she was 56 years old. Her works were romances and often compared to the works of authors such as Danielle Steele. Kate drew on her own experiences and environment focusing on strong female leads. They were often divorcees, executives, celebrities and military wives. One critic reflected that Kate, “has her finger on the pulse of the female half of the married nation.” Born Shirley Tyer in St. Louis, she worked as a flight attendant after college where she would meet her future husband, a West Point cadet. In 1981, after her children were adults, she began writing her first novel. After being rejected by several publishers her husband looked for a way to support her and was able to convince an agent at William Morris to read it. At the publisher’s suggestion, she took on the pen name Kate. In 1992 she was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and completed her last novel while on a respirator.  

Here books are, Fame and Fortune (1984), Perfect Order (1985), Living Color (1987), Pretty Women (1989), Leading Lady (1991), and Heir Apparent (1993).