New York Times Best-Selling author Mary Higgins Clark is a master at the art of the psychological thriller. From the moment she penned her first suspense, “Where are the Children?,” her name has been synonymous with thrills, chills, and reading with one hand on a large iron skillet, just in case someone were to break in.
Mary is a born and bred New Yorker, but was not destined to stay there. Determined to see something of the world, she became a stewardess and by chance was on the last flight going in to Czechoslovakia before the Iron Curtain went down. A year later, she married Warren Clark, whom she had known since she was sixteen.
It wasn’t long before the writing bug bit, and she started penning short stories. Her first acceptance came six years after she began submitting, and she earned a whole $100 for the story. That didn’t dampen her enthusiasm, however. “I framed that first letter of acceptance,” she is quoted as saying.
In 1964, Warren suffered a heart attack and left Mary a widow with five young children. By getting up before dawn and working until the children woke up, she was able to write radio scripts and also began her career as a novelist, although that got off to a bad start when her first novel, entitled “Aspire to the Heavens,” went south as soon as it came off the press. Her second published attempt, “Where are the Children,” was to mark the beginning of a career so successful, it probably surpassed everything she had imagined.
Never one to let her brain lay fallow, Mary went back to college at Fordham University and graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy, summa cum laude, of all things. To date she has thirteen honorary doctorates.
In November of 1996, after thirty-two years of being alone, Mary wed John J. Conheeney. They reside in New Jersey, enjoying each other, their sixteen grandchildren, and the life they have created together.
Mary is the author of over 35 published novels, some co-authored with her daughter, Carol. While her first four books were undoubtedly her best and she does occasionally find herself stuck in a bit of a rut (during the 1980’s, her heroines all wore capes and boots, and made themselves dinner of pasta with red wine, green salad, and crusty bread) you will find yourself coming back for more.
Oh, and that first book that did so poorly? What was it called, “Aspire to the Heavens?” In 2002, that book was released – again. Its new name: “Mount Vernon Love Story.” Amazing what a few years and a little name recognition will do for you.
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