Carolyn Meyer
Carolyn Meyer is an American author of novels for children and young adults.
The typical genre for her work is historical fiction, one of her more popular projects being the Young Royals series, each novel of which tells the story of a different crown princess of her home country; either Egypt, England, Italy, Scotland, Austria and France.
For example, one of Carolyn Meyer's works is Duchessina, which is the story of the troubled childhood and young adulthood of the Italian duchess Catherine de' Medici up to her meeting with Crown Prince Henry of France. One recent novel in the Young Royals is Victoria Rebels, which is about the teenage Princess Victoria of Kent and her budding relationship with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Early life
Born June 8, 1935, as an only child in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Meyer began her first "novel," Humpy the Caterpillar and Gladys the Snail: A True Life Romance at age eight. However, she completed only three chapters.Career
Meyer's latest work published is Beauty's Daughter: The Story of Hermione and Helen of Troy, published October 2013.Her previous published work was The True Adventures of Charley Darwin, focusing on the life of Charles Darwin, quite a leap from her usual subjects, for she has gone from royalty, to European artists, and now to scientists. The True Adventures of Charley Darwin is unusual in that it breaks from Meyer's formula of always having a female narrator, as Charley narrates his own story. The hardcover version of this book was published on January 26, 2009. Before Darwin came In Mozart's Shadow, a historical novel about Mozart and narrated by his older sister, Maria Anna Mozart, nicknamed Nannerl, released in 2008.
Awards and recognition
Carolyn Meyer has received numerous accolades throughout her career, underscoring her significant contributions to young adult literature."Mary, Bloody Mary"
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award* Awarded in the Intermediate division for *Mary, Bloody Mary*.
* Source: American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
* Recognized as one of the Best Books for Young Adults.
* Source: American Booksellers Association Pick of the Lists
* Selected for the ABA Pick of the Lists.
* Source: National Council for the Social Studies–Children's Book Council Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
* Honored as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.
* Source:
"Marie, Dancing"
Book Sense Pick* Selected as a Book Sense Pick.
* Source:
Early Career Recognition
American Library Association Notable Book Citations* 1971: *The Bread Book*
* 1976: *Amish People*
* 1979: *C.C. Poindexter*
* Source: Children’s Book Showcase Award
* Awarded for *Amish People* by the Children's Book Council.
* Source: Best Books Citation by The New York Times
* Recognized for *Eskimos: Growing Up in a Changing Culture*.
* Source: Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Author of the Year
* Honored as Author of the Year.
* Source:
Personal life
Mother to three grown sons, she resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her husband, E.A. "Tony" Mares, a New Mexico poet, essayist and historian, and professor at the University of New Mexico, died January 30, 2015.Novels
| Title | Year published | Part of Young Royals series |
| Where the Broken Heart Still Beats: The Story of Cynthia Ann Parker | 1992 | No |
| White Lilacs | 1993 | No |
| Rio Grande Stories | 1994 | No |
| Drummers of Jericho | 1995 | No |
| Gideon's People | 1996 | No |
| Jubilee Journey | 1997 | No |
| Mary, Bloody Mary | 1999 | Yes |
| Isabel: Jewel of Castilla | 2000 | Yes |
| Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess | 2000 | Yes |
| Beware, Princess Elizabeth | 2001 | Yes |
| Kristina: The Girl King | 2003 | Yes |
| Brown Eyes Blue | 2003 | No |
| Doomed Queen Anne | 2004 | Yes |
| Patience, Princess Catherine | 2004 | Yes |
| Marie, Dancing | 2005 | No |
| Loving Will Shakespeare | 2006 | No |
| Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de' Medici | 2007 | Yes |
| In Mozart's Shadow: His Sister's Story | 2008 | No |
| The True Adventures of Charley Darwin | 2009 | No |
| The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette | 2010 | Yes |
| Cleopatra Confesses | 2011 | Yes |
| The Wild Queen: The Days and Nights of Mary, Queen of Scots | 2012 | Yes |
| Victoria Rebels | 2013 | Yes |
| Beauty's Daughter: The Story of Hermione and Helen of Troy | 2013 | No |
| Anastasia and her Sisters | 2013 | Yes |
| Girl With a Camera: Margaret Bourke-White, Photographer | 2017 | No |
| Girl with Brush and Canvas: Georgia O'Keeffe, American Artist | 2019 | No |