Patricia Maxwell (born Patricia Anne Ponder; March 9, 1942, near Goldonna, Louisiana), is an American writer. A member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and the Affaire de Coeur Romance Hall of Fame, Maxwell has received numerous awards for her writing. Her first novel in the romance genre, Love's Wild Desire, became a New York Times Bestseller.Maxwell has published books under five different names. Using her real name, Patricia Maxwell, she wrote Gothic mystery-suspense romances. She wrote one book in collaboration with Carol Albritton that was published under the name Elizabeth Trehearne. Under her maiden name, Patricia Ponder, she wrote a murder mystery and a romantic suspense story. As Maxine Patrick, she wrote contemporary romances, and as Jennifer Blake historical romances. Many of her books are set in her native Louisiana. Source: Wikipedia (en)