Alyssa Cole (born August 12, 1982) is an American author of historical, science fiction, mystery, thriller and contemporary romance novels. Her stories include diverse casts of characters with a variety of professions, from Civil War spies to modern day epidemiologists. Her romance works to explore both straight and gay relationships.
Career Alyssa Cole began her writing career by publishing collections of short stories and novellas. Her stories tend to take place during important events in American history, including the civil rights movement, the Revolutionary War, and the Harlem Renaissance.
Cole's Loyal League novels, a trilogy taking place with the backdrop of the American Civil War, is represented by Kensington Publishing Corporation. Her Reluctant Royals novels, a contemporary romance series inspired by modern-day royalty, is represented by Avon Romance.
Alyssa Cole has collaborated with other authors on anthologies. These authors include Rose Learner, Courtney Milan, Lena Hart, Kianna Alexander, Piper Huguley, and Kate McMurray. At times, Cole has taken part in the month-long challenge of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) to encourage her writing habits and finish longer works.
Cole's An Extraordinary Union, published in 2017, won multiple awards, and her book A Princess in Theory was named one of The New York Times most notable books of 2018. Her 2020 thriller novel When No One Is Watching garnered acclaim from critics.
Cole is a prominent figure in the effort to increase the representation of Black authors in the romance publishing industry. Her discussion for the need for diversity in the genre has occurred in convention panels and on Twitter.
In late December 2019, Romance Writers of America (RWA) suspended Courtney Milan, chair of the ethics committee, after other romance authors filed complaints with the RWA because she highlighted racist tropes in those authors' books on social media. With Milan's permission, Alyssa Cole made documents related to the dispute public on Twitter.
In 2020, Cole published her first mystery/thriller novel, When No One Is Watching.
Themes Cole's writing often contains political and activist elements. One of her historical novel series takes place during the Civil War and contains heroines and heroes who are involved in important political events in American history. Another historical series, set in the American 1960s, sees Cole's characters in the middle of the civil rights movement. Cole's works of historical fiction set in America often thematically connect love and freedom. Her contemporary novel, A Princess in Theory, contains a hero who is a prince of a small, fictional African country that deals with advances and issues modeled after real life nations of similar size and geography.
Personal life Cole was born in the Bronx, and spent her childhood there and in Jersey City.
Cole mainly resides in the Caribbean island of Martinique, but also spends a portion of her time in New York City.
During the process of writing a character with ADHD, Cole discovered she also lived with the same diagnosis.
Bibliography +TitleSeriesPublication yearISBN/ASINNotesSweet to the Taste2014B00IJYGP76For Love & Liberty: Untold Love Stories of the American Revolution20149781941885017Anthology. Cole wrote "Be Not Afraid."Eagle's Heart2014B00HZ6CJVARadio SilenceOff the Grid #120159781539664666Signal BoostOff the Grid #220159781539694663Mixed SignalsOff the Grid #320159781539712565The Brightest Day: A Juneteenth Historical Romance Anthology20159781519616470Anthology. Cole wrote "Let It Shine."Be Not Afraid20169781530675029Previously published in For Love and Liberty.Let it Shine20169781530758067Previously published in The Brightest Day.Agnes Moor's Wild Knight20169781530771561Daughters of a Nation: A Black Suffragette Historical Romance Anthology20169781941885345Anthology. Cole wrote "Let Us Dream."Let Us Dream20179781544766195Previously published in Daughters of a Nation.An Extraordinary UnionThe Loyal League #120179781496707444Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio of Romances20179781977530691A Hope DividedThe Loyal League #220179781496707468Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 420189781627782487Anthology. Cole wrote "Essential Qualities."A Princess in TheoryReluctant Royals #120189780062685544A Duke by DefaultReluctant Royals #220189780062685568Bingo Love Volume 1: Jackpot Edition20189781534310247Once Ghosted, Twice ShyReluctant Royals #2.520199780062931870An Unconditional FreedomThe Loyal League #320199781496707482Can't Escape LoveReluctant Royals #2.620199781982649012A Prince on PaperReluctant Royals #320199780062685582The A.I. Who Loved Me2019B07WQYP9MMHow to Catch a QueenRunaway Royals #120209780062933966When No One Is Watching20209780062982650How to Find a PrincessRunaway Royals #220219780062934000Marple: Twelve New Mysteries20229780063136052Anthology. Cole wrote "Miss Marple Takes Manhattan."Just a Girl20239781662512025Fit for the Gods: Greek Mythology Reimagined20239780593469248Anthology. Cole wrote "Stasis (Bastion in the Spring)."One of Us Knows20249780063297135
Awards 2017 - An Extraordinary Union - Vulture's 10 Best Romance Books of 2017 2017 - An Extraordinary Union - Booklist Top 10 Romances 2017 2017 - An Extraordinary Union - Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017, Romance 2018 - An Extraordinary Union - American Library Association RUSA Best Romance 2019 - An Unconditional Freedom - The Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romance Fiction 2019 - Once Ghosted Twice Shy - The Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romance Fiction 2019 - A Prince on Paper - The Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romance Fiction 2019 - A Prince on Paper - New York Public Library Best Books for Adults 2019 2021 – When No One Is Watching – Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.
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