Author. Born Mary Jane Hawes in Brookfield, Massachusetts where she taught in a district school at age thirteen. In 1852 she married lawyer, Daniel Holmes, and within a year moved to western New York where she wrote her first novel. "Tempest and Sunshine" was published in 1854 followed by "The English Orphans" in 1855. She became one of the first writers to be developed by the publishing firm of Street & Smith, her first serial story for them; "Marian Grey" in 1859 was rumored to have saved them from bankruptcy and increased their readership fourfold within three years. Her work, now known as domestic fiction, became very popular and she was one of perhaps two female authors of the time who received substantial profits from her copyrights. Much of her work would become best sellers. She was one of the most popular writers of her day, publishing more than forty novels with sales of over 2 million copies. Three of her novels, "Tempest and Sunshine", "Lena Rivers" and "Dora Deane" were adapted for the stage. She continued to publish at the rate of almost one novel a year until the dual volume, "The Abandoned Farm and Connie's Mistake" published in 1905 marked the end of her 51 year career at age 80.
Author. Born Mary Jane Hawes in Brookfield, Massachusetts where she taught in a district school at age thirteen. In 1852 she married lawyer, Daniel Holmes, and within a year moved to western New York where she wrote her first novel. "Tempest and Sunshine" was published in 1854 followed by "The English Orphans" in 1855. She became one of the first writers to be developed by the publishing firm of Street & Smith, her first serial story for them; "Marian Grey" in 1859 was rumored to have saved them from bankruptcy and increased their readership fourfold within three years. Her work, now known as domestic fiction, became very popular and she was one of perhaps two female authors of the time who received substantial profits from her copyrights. Much of her work would become best sellers. She was one of the most popular writers of her day, publishing more than forty novels with sales of over 2 million copies. Three of her novels, "Tempest and Sunshine", "Lena Rivers" and "Dora Deane" were adapted for the stage. She continued to publish at the rate of almost one novel a year until the dual volume, "The Abandoned Farm and Connie's Mistake" published in 1905 marked the end of her 51 year career at age 80.
Bio by: Iola
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