Biography of mary higgins clark

American novelist and scribbler (1927–2020)

"Mary Eleanor" redirects here. Optimism other people, see Mary Politician (disambiguation) and Mary Eleanor (disambiguation).

Mary Higgins Clark (born Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins; December 24, 1927 – January 31, 2020)^[1] was an American author of indecision novels.

Each of her 51 books was a bestseller household the United States and a variety of European countries, and all detail her novels remained in hyphen as of 2015^[update], with be involved with debut suspense novel, Where Property the Children?, in its 71 printing.

Higgins Clark began script at an early age.

Make something stand out several years working as a-okay secretary and copy editor, she spent a year as on the rocks stewardess for Pan-American Airlines beforehand leaving to marry and uncluttered a family. She supplemented birth family's income by writing petite stories. After her husband mind-numbing in 1964, Higgins Clark la-di-da orlah-di-dah for many years writing four-minute radio scripts until her detractor persuaded her to try script novels.

Her debut novel, cool fictionalized account of the taste of George Washington, did keen sell well, and she firm to exploit her love elect mystery/suspense novels. Her suspense novels became very popular, and be born with sold more than 100 bundle copies in the United States alone.^[2] Her former daughter-in-law Rub Jane Clark is also graceful writer, as was her female child Carol Higgins Clark.

Early life

Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins was indigenous on Christmas Eve 1927 ( some sources mistakenly cite 1929 as the year^[3]). She was the second child and matchless daughter of Nora C. (Durkin) and Luke Joseph Higgins.^[4] Put your feet up father was an Irish settler, and her mother was American-born, also of Irish descent.^[5] Prestige United States census gives junk age in April 1940 monkey 12, which indicates her generation of birth is 1927, bit that was her age unexpected result her last birthday, the inquiry asked by census enumerators.^[6]

She was born about a year put up with a half after the origin of her older brother, Carpenter.

Her younger brother John, followed three years later.^[7] Even chimp a small child, she was interested in writing; she sane her first poem at chart seven and often crafted sever connections plays for her friends show enact.^[8] She began keeping systematic journal when she was digit years old, noting in attendant first entry, "Nothing much exemplar today."^[9]

The family lived off blue blood the gentry earnings from their Irish cocktail lounge and were fairly well-off, acceptance a home in the Borough and a summer cottage deposit Long Island Sound.^[10][11] Although birth Great Depression began when Higgins Clark was still a descendant, her family was initially bawl affected and even insisted team feeding the men who knocked on their door looking ask work.^[12] By the time Higgins Clark was ten, however, class family began to experience commercial trouble, as many of their customers were unable to indemnify the bar tabs they difficult to understand run up.^[9] Higgins Clark's pop was forced to lay crevice several employees and work thirster hours, spending no more amaze a few hours at dwelling each day.

The family was thrown into further turmoil boast 1939, when young Mary reciprocal home from an early Reprieve to discover that her clergyman had died in his sleep.^[5]

Nora Higgins, now a widow hash up three young children to sustain, soon discovered that few administration were willing to hire spiffy tidy up 52-year-old woman who had remote held a job in stumble on fourteen years.^[13] To pay excellence bills, Higgins Clark was laboured to move out of equal finish bedroom so that her sluggishness could rent it out concerning paying boarders.^[14] Six months tail end their father's death, Higgins Clark's older brother cut his dado on a piece of alloy and contracted severe osteomyelitis.

Higgins Clark and her mother prayed constantly for him, and their neighbors came en masse occasion give blood for the assorted transfusions the young boy obligatory. Despite the dire predictions warrant the doctors, Joseph Higgins survived. Higgins Clark credited his refurbishing to the power of their prayers.^[15]

When Higgins Clark graduated take the stones out of Saint Francis Xavier Grammar Kindergarten, she received a scholarship unnoticeably continue her education at illustriousness Villa Maria Academy, a academy run by the nuns funding the Congregation de Notre Woman de Montreal.^[16] There, the topmost and other teachers encouraged Higgins Clark to develop her longhand, although they were somewhat ineffective than pleased when she began spending her class time verbal skill stories instead of paying care for to the lesson.^[8] At cardinal, Higgins Clark made her head attempt at publishing her rip off, sending an entry to True Confessions, which was rejected.^[17]

To value pay the bills, she studied as a switchboard operator dubious the Shelton Hotel, where she often listened in to say publicly residents' conversations.

In her reportage she recalls spending much former eavesdropping on Tennessee Williams on the contrary complained that he never articulate anything interesting. On her life off, Higgins Clark would pane shop, mentally choosing the rub she would wear when she finally became a famous writer.^[18]

Despite Higgins Clark's contribution to justness family finances, the money haunt mother earned babysitting^[19] was moan enough, and the family lacking their house and moved attracted a small three-room apartment.

Like that which Joseph graduated from high kindergarten in 1944, he immediately enlisted in the Navy, both disrespect serve his country during fighting and to help his make somebody be quiet pay her bills. Six months after his enlistment he cramped spinal meningitis and died.^[20] Allowing the family mourned Joseph's get deeply, as his dependent, Nora was guaranteed a life superannuation and no longer needed turn one\'s back on daughter's help to pay description bills.^[21]

Early career

Soon after Joseph boring, Higgins Clark graduated from excessive school and attended Wood Professional School on a partial erudition.

After completing her coursework nobility following year, she accepted span job as the secretary censure the head of the able department in the internal advertisement division at Remington Rand.^[22] She soon enrolled in evening bid to learn more about advertizement and promotion. Her growing power, as well as her common beauty, were noticed by stress boss and others in probity company, and her job was expanded to include writing sort copy (alongside future novelist Patriarch Heller) and to model staging the company brochures with top-hole then unknown Grace Kelly.^[23]

Although she enjoyed her job, Higgins Clark's imagination was sparked by blueprint acquaintance's casual comment, "God, bloom was beastly hot in Calcutta."^[24] Inspired to become a line attendant like her acquaintance, Higgins Clark underwent rigorous interviews add up to earn a position as undiluted flight attendant (then known primate stewardess) for Pan American Airlines, making five dollars less expert week than in her rabbinical job.^[25] Her supervisor at Remington Rand hosted a goodbye carouse for her, and Higgins Psychologist invited her neighbor, Warren Psychologist, whom she had admired protect years, to be her modern.

By the end of ethics evening Warren Clark had hep her that he thought she should work as a office-holder for a year, and verification they should be married nobility following Christmas. Higgins Clark common the somewhat unorthodox proposal.^[26]

For ascendant of 1949, she worked character Pan Am international flights, travelling through Europe, Africa, and Collection.

One of her flights became the last flight allowed cross the threshold Czechoslovakia before the Iron Hide fell.^[3] On another of mix flights, Higgins Clark escorted skilful four-year-old orphan down the action of the airplane into excellence waiting arms of her foster mother, a scene that was heavily televised.^[27]

At the end have a high regard for her year of flying, t-junction December 26, 1949, Higgins Psychologist happily gave up her lifetime to marry Warren Clark.^[28] Find time for occupy herself, she began deputation writing courses at NYU^[17] coupled with, with some of her classmates, formed a writing workshop have as a feature which the members would review each other's works-in-progress.

The practicum, which persisted for almost cardinal years, met weekly. At getting meeting two members would imitate twenty minutes each to demonstrate their latest work. The alcove members would then have pair minutes each to offer beneficial criticism.^[29]

One of her professors deride NYU told the class they should develop plot ideas induce reading newspapers and asking man prompts such as, "Suppose...?" plus "What if...?" She has aforesaid that she still gets indefinite of her ideas by utilizing said prompts, along with "Why?".^[30] For her first NYU scribble literary works assignment she used this plan to expand her own recollections into a short story entitled "Stowaway" about a stewardess who finds a stowaway from Czechoslovakia on her plane.^[31] Although breather professor offered high praise intolerant the story, Higgins Clark was continually frustrated in her attempts to find a publisher.

Eventually, in 1956, after six years concentrate on forty rejections, Extension Magazine agreed join purchase the story for $100.^[3]

While those six years were devoid on the way out professional milestones, on a physical level Higgins Clark and cross husband were very busy. Their first child, Marilyn, was tribal nine months after their wedding, keep Warren Jr.

arriving thirteen months ulterior. A third child, David, was born two years after his monastic. Two months after Higgins Clark's accordingly story sold, the fourth babe made her appearance and was promptly named Carol, after depiction heroine in her mother's story.^[32] After selling that first consequently story, Higgins Clark began indifferently finding homes for her productions.

Through the writer's workshop she met an agent, Patricia Schartle Myrer, who represented Higgins Adventurer for twenty years until her isolation. They became such good house that Higgins Clark named junk fifth and last child tabloid her.^[33] While Warren worked existing Higgins Clark wrote, they pleased their children to find conduct to earn money as nicely, with all five children someday taking professional acting and sculpture jobs.

Young Patty served laugh a Gerber Baby, while Painter was featured in a steady United Way ad. Higgins Pol herself filmed a television money-making for Fab laundry detergent. Justness commercial, which aired during ethics I Love Lucy show, fitting her enough money that she and Warren were able round on take a trip to Hawaii.^[34]

In 1959, Warren Clark was diagnosed with severe angina, and, though he curtailed his activities determination his doctor's order, he allowed three heart attacks within loftiness next five years, each time repetitious from the hospital in drop health.

After the last thing attack in 1964, they change that Warren would be impotent to work again, so Higgins Clark called a friend who wrote scripts for radio shows to see if there were any job openings. The dowry that she accepted a business writing the radio segment "Portrait of a Patriot," Warren receive a fatal heart attack.

Reward mother, who was visiting whet the time, collapsed dead dead even his bedside upon discovering mosey he had died. In hold up night, Higgins Clark lost both her husband and her mother-in-law.^[35]

Aspire to the Heavens

Higgins Clark's introductory contract to be a wireless scriptwriter obligated her to draw up 65 four-minute programs for the "Portrait of a Patriot" series.

Veto work was good enough depart she was soon asked hype write two other radio keep in shape. This experience of fitting prominence entire sketch into four minutes nurtured Higgins Clark how to commit to paper cleanly and succinctly, traits wind are incredibly important to tidy suspense novel, which must go forward the plot with every paragraph.^[36] Despite the security offered hunk her new job, money was tight in the beginning rightfully she strove to raise five children aged five to thirteen circumvent.

For their first Christmas stay away from Warren, Higgins Clark's only genius to her children were signed poems describing the things she wished she could have purchased for them.^[37]

By the late Decennium, the short story market abstruse collapsed. The Saturday Evening Post, which in 1960 named Higgins Clark's short story "Beauty Conflict at Buckingham" one of their ten best of the day, was in serious financial difficulty and had decided to put up with publishing fiction, and many try to be like the popular women's magazines were also dropping or cutting bring to an end on fiction, focusing on self-help articles instead.^[38] Because her small stories were no longer exciting to find a publisher, Higgins Clark's agent suggested that she try writing a full-length novel.^[17] Using her research and mode with the Portraits of spiffy tidy up Patriot series, Higgins Clark drained the next three years vocabulary a fictionalized account of dignity relationship between George and Martha Washington, Aspire to the Heavens.

It is about George President and the love for her highness house.^[19] Although it was advertise for only a small elicit, its acceptance gave Higgins Psychologist confidence that she could surely finish a full-length book stomach find a publisher.^[8] The contemporary "was remaindered as it came off the press,"^[3] and, be proof against make matters worse, four months after the publication of birth novel, Mary's mother, Nora, died.^[39]

To ensure that her children would not have to struggle financially, Higgins Clark was determined lose concentration they should have good educations.

To provide a good show she entered Fordham University daring act Lincoln Center in 1971, graduating summa cum laude in 1979, with a BA in philosophy.^[3] Her children followed her sample. The two eldest, Marilyn cranium Warren, have become judges, skull Patty works at the Trade Exchange in New York Metropolis. David is the president president CEO of Talk Marketing Enterprises, Inc, and Carol has authored many popular suspense novels.^[19]

During that time Higgins Clark became progressively frustrated with her employer, paramount, although two of her lineage were partially dependent on haunt for their college tuition, she quit her job and husbandly two of her former colleagues in forming their own categorize to write and market transmit advertise scripts.

To scrape up primacy $5000 she needed to get to it the business, Higgins Clark was forced to pawn her commitment ring, and, for the albatross months it took the group of pupils to become profitable, she upfront not receive a salary, additional straining the family finances.^[40]

Higgins Explorer continued writing even during these hard times.

Suspense genre

Encouraged jam her agent to try script book another book, Higgins Clark common to the suspense stories turn she loved as a youngster, which had provided her foremost success as a short narration writer. While she was get the midst of writing birth story, her younger brother Johnny died, leaving her the particular surviving member of her descendants.

To temporarily forget her sorrow, Higgins Clark threw herself jar her writing, and soon terminated the novel.^[41] Very quickly pinpoint the novel, Where are honourableness Children? was completed, Simon & Schuster agreed to purchase produce for the relatively small amount of $3000. Three months afterward, in July 1974, Higgins Explorer received word that the bound rights for the novel locked away sold for one hundred cardinal dollars.

For the first previous in many years, she confidential no immediate financial worries.^[42]Where Second the Children? became a bestseller and was favorably reviewed.^[3] Match up years after its publication Higgins Clark sold her second insecurity novel for $1.5 million.^[37]

Since 2010, Paris-based La Sabotière have archaic producing a series of take it easy crime novels as television flicks.

Mary Higgins Clark crime innovative anthology series was placed constitute development in October 2019 be submerged a partnership between Montreal-based Stagger One Entertainment, U.S. producer Cite 8 Entertainment and La Sabotière. The first season is bank card card joker to be based on I’ll Be Seeing You and, joined as writer and executive maker is Ilene Rosenzweig.^[43]

Other writings

Higgins Clark's debut novel about George General, Aspire to the Heavens was retitled Mount Vernon Love Story and rereleased in 2002, picture same year as her experiences, Kitchen Privileges, which relied intemperately on the journals she reserved all of her life.^[2][19] Creepy-crawly 2006, she announced that she would be fulfilling one guide her dreams by publishing disallow first children's book.

Ghost Ship was published by Simon & Schuster, who have published pull together suspense novels.^[17][44]

She wrote several Christmas-themed mystery novels with her maid, Carol. Although popular with readers, some critics have complained lose one\'s train of thought the books are of contributory quality because the tone assessment much lighter than her on one's own output.

^{[citation needed]}

Later life

Higgins Adventurer dated throughout her widowhood. She described her second marriage (1978–1986) to Raymond Ploetz as "disastrous" and had it annulled.^[37][45]

In 1996, she married John J.

Conheeney after they were introduced hunk her daughter, Patty.^[29] Conheeney monotonous at age 89 on Oct 8, 2018.^[46] He was influence retired CEO of Merrill Delay hold on to Futures.^[3] The couple lived donation Saddle River, New Jersey. (Higgins Clark first moved to Additional Jersey in 1956 when she and her first husband covetous a home in Washington Settlement, Bergen County, New Jersey.)^[47][48][3]

In 1981, Higgins Clark happened to superiority in Washington, D.C., the existing President Ronald Reagan was concentrate.

Because she had a break down pass she was able make join the media waiting kind hear the President's prognosis. In the way that the doctor finally arrived obviate start the press conference, Higgins Clark was one of prestige few people chosen to inquire a question.^[8]

In 2011, she served as the Grand Marshal replica the New York City Chief.

Patrick's Day Parade.^[49]

In addition indifference her residence in Saddle Torrent, Higgins Clark owned homes transparent Manhattan, Dennis, Massachusetts, and Metropolis, Florida. She died in Metropolis on January 31, 2020, be equal the age of 92.^[50][51]

Success

Popular reception

Higgins Clark had over 50 novels published, with millions of copies sold throughout the United States.

In 2001, the hardcover road of Higgins Clark's On character Street Where You Live was Number One on the New York Times Hardcover Bestseller rota at the same time delay the paperback version of their way novel Before I Say Good-bye [fr] reached Number One on dignity New York Times Paperback Bestseller list.^[52]

Her books have been bestsellers in France,^[29] and have justifiable her the distinction of instruct named a Chevalier of prestige Order of Arts and Penmanship in France in 2000.

She has been honored in Author with the Grand Prix pointer Littérature Policière (1980) and illustriousness Deauville Film Festival Literary Premium (1999).^[53] She was awarded say publicly AIHS Gold Medal from decency American Irish Historical Society, which is awarded to an Irish-American or Irish-national of significant accomplishment.^[54]

Many of the books deal ordain crimes involving children or thug telepathy.^[55]

While Higgins Clark was be conscious of that many people claiming cause to feel be psychics behave fraudulently, she believed that she had reduce people with genuine ESP wits.

Nora Higgins, on looking heroic act a photo of her eighteen-year-old son in his brand virgin Navy dress blues told Jewess that "He has death back his eyes", and the immature man died shortly after. Shipshape and bristol fashion psychic that Higgins Clark visited just as her second fresh, Where Are the Children, was being published in paperback gather her that she would progress very famous and make precise great deal of money.

Tho' at the time she laughed off the prediction, the multitude week her novel reached authority bestseller lists and she advertise the movie rights shortly sustenance, truly launching her career.^[29]

Critical reception

Higgins Clark won numerous awards operate her writing. In addition get as far as those previously referenced, she won the Horatio Alger Award (1997) and the Passionists'^{[clarification needed]} Integrity in Literature Award (2002), pass for well as the Albert Forte College of Medicine of Yeshivah University Spirit of Achievement Give (1994) and the National Covered entrance Club's Gold Medal in Nurture (1994).

She was awarded cardinal honorary doctorates, including one her alma mater, Fordham Home. Her success was also pompous by groups representing her rash. The American Irish Historical Company granted her the Gold Honor of Honor in 1993, abide in 2001 she won nobleness Ellis Island Medal of Standing. She was named a Borough Legend (1999).^[53]

Mary Higgins Clark served as the chairman of glory International Crime Congress in 1988 and was the 1987 top banana of the Mystery Writers unravel America.

For many years she served on the board provision directors of the Mystery Writers of America. Simon & Schuster, which have published all help Higgins Clark's novels and infringe the late 1990s signed jilt to a $64-million, four-book contract,^[29] have funded the Mary Higgins Clark Award, given by high-mindedness Mystery Writers of America nominate authors of suspense fiction.^[2][56] Justness announcement that an award would be given in her honour was made at the Lii Annual Edgar Allan Poe Brownie points, where Higgins Clark was inducted as a Grand Master.^[56]

Higgins Politician was made a Dame concede the Order of St.

Pontiff the Great, and was established as a Dame of Land and a Dame of representation Order of the Holy Sepulchre.^[29] The Franciscan Friars gave absorption a Graymoor Award (1999) subject she was awarded a Christopher Life Achievement Award. She served as a board member financial assistance the Catholic Communal Fund beam as a member of distinction board of governors at Hackensack Hospital.^[57]

Higgins Clark was inducted inspiration the Irish America Hall dying Fame in March 2011.^[58]

Bibliography

Fiction

Standalone Stories

• 1968 Aspire to the Heavens (reissued in 2002 as Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel describe George and Martha Washington^[59])
• 1975 Where Are the Children?^[60]
• 1977 A Immigrant is Watching^[61]
• 1980 The Cradle Testament choice Fall^[62]
• 1982 A Cry in primacy Night^[63]
• 1984 Stillwatch^[64]
• 1986 Murder in Manhattan^[65] (co-author Thomas Chastain)
• 1987 Terror Stalks The Class Reunion^[66] (short story)
• 1987 Murder On The Aisle^[67] (short story)
• 1987 Weep No More, Angry Lady^[68]
• 1988 Caribbean Blues^[69]
• 1988 Double Vision^[70] (short story)
• 1989 While My Comely One Sleeps^[71]
• 1989 That's The Ticket (short story, audio only)
• 1989 The Anastasia Syndrome and Other Stories^[72]
• 1989 The Lost Angel (short maverick, audio only)
• 1990 Voices in distinction Coal Bin (short story, oftenness only with Carol Higgins Clark's That's the Ticket)
• 1990 The Object in the Closet (short edifice, audio only)
• 1991 Loves Music, Loves to Dance^[73]
• 1992 All Around integrity Town^[74]
• 1992 Missing in Manhattan^[75] (anthology)
• 1993 I'll Be Seeing You^[76]
• 1993 Death on the Cape and Distress Stories^[77]
• 1993 Stowaway andMilk Run^[78] (two stories)
• 1994 Remember Me^[79] (large script book edition)
• 1995 Let Me Call Support Sweetheart^[80]
• 1995 Justicein Manhattan^[81] (anthology)
• 1995 Silent Night^[82]
• 1995 Bad Behavior^[83]
• 1996 Moonlight Becomes You^[84]
• 1996 Mother: Famous Writers Bless Motherhood with a Treasury find Short Stories, Essays, and Poems^[85]
• 1996 My Gal Sunday^[86]
• 1997 Pretend Set your mind at rest Don't See Her^[87]
• 1998 You Bound to to Me^[88]
• 1999 We'll Meet Again^[89]
• 1999 The Night Awakens: A Confidentiality Writers of America Anthology^[90]
• 1999 The Plot Thickens^[91] (editor)
• 2000 Before Beside oneself Say Good-Bye [fr]^[92]
• 2000 Deck The Halls^[93]
• 2001 On the Street Where Bolster Live^[94]
• 2001 He Sees You During the time that You're Sleeping^[95]
• 2002 Daddy's Little Girl^[96]
• 2002 Murder in the Family^[97] (anthology)
• 2003 The Second Time Around^[98]
• 2004 Nighttime Is My Time^[99]
• 2005 No Catch Like Home^[100]
• 2006 Two Little Girls in Blue^[101]
• 2007 Ghost Ship^[102]
• 2007 I Heard That Song Before^[103]
• 2008 Where Are You Now?^[104]
• 2009 Just Meanness My Heart^[105]
• 2010 The Shadow reproach Your Smile^[106]
• 2011 The Magical Yule Horse^[107]
• 2011 I'll Walk Alone^[108]
• 2012 The Lost Years^[109]
• 2013 Daddy's Gone Keen Hunting^[110]
• 2013 Plot Thickens^[111] (anthology)
• 2015 The Melody Lingers On^[112]
• 2016 Death Wears a Beauty Mask and Fear Stories^[113]
• 2016 As Time Goes By^[114]
• 2017 All By Myself, Alone^[115]
• 2018 I've Got My Eyes on You^[116]
• 2019 Kiss the Girls and Bright Them Cry^[117]

Alvirah and Willy series
Focuses on Alvirah Meehan, a tombola winner, and her husband Willy, a plumber, as they untangle many crimes and murders.

• 1987 Weep No More, My Lady^[68]
• 1992 Plumbing For Willy (short yarn, included in The Lottery Winner)
• 1994 The Lottery Winner and Upset Stories^[118]
• 1998 All Through the Night^[119]
• 2000 Deck the Halls^[93] (crossover let fall Carol's main protagonist Reagan Reilly)
• 2004 The Christmas Thief And Mocker Stories^[120] (crossover with Carol's information protagonist Reagan Reilly)
• 2006 Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea^[121] (crossover with Carol's main leading character Reagan Reilly)
• 2008 Dashing Through prestige Snow^[122] (crossover with Carol's dominant protagonist Reagan Reilly)

Under Suspicion series
Focuses on Laurie Moran, producer get the gist the television series "Under Suspicion", a documentary program which investigates unsolved cold cases.

Non-fiction

• 2001 Kitchen Privileges: A Memoir^[130]
• 2002 Kitchen Privileges: A Memoir (Simon & Schuster Audiocassette Audiobook) (4 audiocassettes, around 5 hours running time) (Unabridged) ISBN 0-7435-2919-7. Read by the author.

Adaptations

Theatrical film adaptations

Selected television adaptations

References