Education
Mississippi Willig then studied graduate level early modern European history at Harvard University before entering and graduating from Harvard Law School.
Mississippi Willig then studied graduate level early modern European history at Harvard University before entering and graduating from Harvard Law School.
Her books follow a collection of Napoleonic-Era British spies, similar to the Scarlet Pimpernel as they fight for Britain and fall in love. A native of New York City, Willig discovered historical romance fiction when she was only six years old, while she was attempting to find books about her idol, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Willig briefly worked for Cravath, Swaine & Moore, a law firm in New York, while authoring her "Pink Carnation" series of books, until she gave up law in order to focus full-time on the series.
What makes the books unique is that the historical romance novel structure of each novel is framed by a modern chick lit-style story—following Eloise Kelly, an American graduate student, as she attempts to write her dissertation and uncover the identity of the Pink Carnation (the leader of the ring of spies and Willig"s Pimpernel).
Along the way, Eloise finds love with an attractive Englishman (descended from a family of spies), Colin. The books also feature several different romantic adventures detailing the exploits of the fictional Purple Gentian, the Pink Carnation, the Black Tulip, and a host of other characters from early 19th century England and France.
Lauren"s books have been named a Romantic Times Top Pick! In Spring of 2010, Willig taught Reading the Historical Romance at her alma mater, Yale University, along with fellow alumna and romance novelist Andrea DaRif, penname: Cara Elliott. The course received a great deal of attention for helping to bring the romance novel academic notice.
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (February 2005)
The Masque of the Black Tulip (December 29, 2005)
The Deception of the Emerald Ring (November 16, 2006)
The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (January 31, 2008)
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (January 22, 2009)
The Betrayal of the Blood Lily (January 12, 2010)
The Mischief of the Mistletoe (October 28, 2010)
The Orchid Affair (January 20, 2011)
The Garden Intrigue (February 16, 2012)
The Passion of the Purple Plumeria (August 6, 2013)
The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla (August 5, 2014)
The Lure of the Moonflower (August 4, 2015)
The Ashford Affair (April 9, 2013)
That Summer (June 3, 2014)
The Other Daughter (July 21, 2015)
The Forgotten Room (January 19, 2016).
After graduating from the Chapin School, Willig attended Yale University, where she majored in Renaissance Studies and Political Science, and was Chairman of the Tory Party of the Yale Political Union.