Nancy Martin has made a career out of romance, but now she’s turning to murder.

As an author of romance novels, Martin has been published in 19 languages around the world and has appeared on bestsellers lists in the US and Canada. But after 38 love stories, she has turned to her real passion—murder mysteries. Her first mystery, HOW TO MURDER A MILLIONAIRE was published in October 2002 and launched the Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series. CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE TO DIE, the 4th and most recent book, was published in hardcover in March, 2005.

"I’ve read mysteries all my life," she says. "My mother and her sisters have all been avid mystery readers, so I had a never-ending supply of great books. But my husband and I had two children to put through college, and romance novels generate a nice income. Now that we’re nearing graduation, I can write what I truly enjoy—character-driven murder mysteries."

Martin has written many kinds of books during her 22-year career—everything from Harlequin romances (her 1992 title WHIRLWIND has sold over 5 million copies) to historical fiction and one action-adventure novel. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, a charter member of Novelists Inc, a founding member of PennWriters, and has recently been elected president of the Mary Roberts Rinehart chapter of Sisters in Crime.

A lifelong Pennsylvania resident, she grew up in western Pennsylvania and currently lives in Pittsburgh. She graduated from Westminster College and taught English in Williamsport, PA before turning to writing just after the birth of her first child. She conducts writing workshops in the US and Canada.

"I’m one of the lucky writers who’s been able to make a living at what I enjoy. I’ve written a lot of books while having a flexible lifestyle. I was able to be a stay-at-home mom, but my daughters knew their mother had a career, too."

Now that Martin and her husband are empty nesters, she can indulge in her true passion—making up ways to do away with unsavory characters. "Murder mysteries have a very clear sense of right and wrong. The bad guys always get punished. The good guys come out on top. The books are little morality plays. But I tend to write funny, so my work is slightly offbeat. I like a light, breezy story with entertaining characters. I don’t write noir. I write nutty. My reviewers say they laugh out loud, which is high praise indeed."

HOW TO MURDER A MILLIONAIRE is the story of three impoverished heiresses, the Blackbird sisters of Bucks County. The adventures of the three sisters take place in the world of Philadelphia’s high society where they grew up. "It’s a world that has a lot of appeal with readers," says Martin. "I enjoyed the research, and loved writing the book." MILLIONAIRE is the first in the Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series, published by Signet. "The characters are a lot of fun. I think readers are going to be drawn into their lives."

And yes, there’s a dash of romance in her mysteries. Martin laughs, "I can’t seem to let go completely. Besides, doesn’t every story need a little romance?"