# Susan Wittig Albert > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Susan_Wittig_Albert > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Susan_Wittig_Albert.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Wittig_Albert > Source revision: 1332511263 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American writer Susan Wittig Albert Wittig Albert at the 2007 Texas Book Festival Born Vermilion County, Illinois, U.S. Pen name Robin Paige, Carolyn Keene Occupation Novelist Education Danville High School University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of California, Berkeley (PhD) Genre Mystery Notable works China Bayles Mysteries Spouse Bill Albert Children 3 Website susanalbert.com **Susan Wittig Albert**, also known by the [pen names](/source/Pen_name) **Robin Paige** and **Carolyn Keene**,[1] is an [American](/source/Americans) [mystery](/source/Mystery_fiction) writer from [Vermilion County, Illinois](/source/Vermilion_County%2C_Illinois), United States. Albert was an academic and the first female vice president of [Southwest Texas State University](/source/Southwest_Texas_State_University) before retiring to become a fulltime writer.[2] ## Early life and education Albert grew up in downstate Illinois, attending [Danville High School](/source/Danville_High_School_(Illinois)) before moving to the nearby community of [Bismarck](/source/Bismarck%2C_Illinois), where she graduated. She earned a degree from the [University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign](/source/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana%E2%80%93Champaign) and a [Ph.D.](/source/Ph.D.) in English from the [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley). ## Educational career She became a professor of English at the [University of Texas, Austin](/source/University_of_Texas%2C_Austin) and was a university administrator at [Sophie Newcomb College](/source/Sophie_Newcomb_College) in [New Orleans](/source/New_Orleans) and vice president for academic affairs at Southwest Texas State University.[1] She also writes a column for *Country Living Gardener* magazine. ## Writing career Albert began writing young adult books in 1983, publishing as Susan Blake. In 1985, she was hired to write [Nancy Drew](/source/Nancy_Drew) books as [Carolyn Keene](/source/Carolyn_Keene). She also published two [Hardy Boys](/source/Hardy_Boys) books.[3][4] Albert began the China Bayles series in 1991.[3] Her first China Bayles novel was *Thyme of Death*. The book was nominated for two national mystery awards, the 1992 [Agatha](/source/Agatha_Award) award and the [1993 Anthony](/source/1993_Anthony_Award) award in the "Best First Novel" category.[5][6] The titles of all the China Bayles novels include the names of [herbs](/source/Herb) and include herbal themes that invoke the title. Albert is a guest speaker at both herbal clubs and women's groups around the country. She describes her books as "cozy mysteries" because they do not contain much violence or gratuitous behavior. Albert and her husband, Bill,[7] have also co-written *The Robin Paige Victorian Mysteries*, a series of a dozen mysteries set in the late [Victorian era](/source/Victorian_era). Albert is also the author of *The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter*, a series of mysteries featuring author [Beatrix Potter](/source/Beatrix_Potter). ## Personal life Albert has three children.[2] She lives on a 31-acre plot of land in the [Texas Hill Country](/source/Texas_Hill_Country).[8] ## Bibliography [Library resources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:The_Wikipedia_Library) **By Susan Wittig Albert** - [Resources in your library](https://ftl.toolforge.org/cgi-bin/ftl?at=wp&au=Susan+Wittig+Albert) - [Resources in other libraries](https://ftl.toolforge.org/cgi-bin/ftl?at=wp&au=Susan+Wittig+Albert&library=0CHOOSE0) ### Fiction - *A Wilder Rose* (2013) - The story of [Rose Wilder Lane](/source/Rose_Wilder_Lane), daughter of [Laura Ingalls Wilder](/source/Laura_Ingalls_Wilder)[9] - *Loving Eleanor* (2016)[10] - *The General's Women* (2017)[11] ### The China Bayles mysteries The [China Bayles](/source/China_Bayles) herbal mystery series centers around the title character's deductive reasoning and knowledge as an herbalist and ex-lawyer, who solves murders with her best friend, Ruby Wilcox, owner of a [New Age](/source/New_Age) shop.[12] - *Thyme of Death* (1992) - *Witches' Bane* (1993)[13] - *Hangman's Root* (1994)[14] - *Rosemary Remembered* (1995)[15] - *Rueful Death* (1996)[16] - *Love Lies Bleeding* (1997)[17] - *Chile Death* (1998)[18] - *Lavender Lies* (1999)[19] - *Mistletoe Man* (2000)[20] - *Bloodroot* (2001)[21] - *Indigo Dying* (2003) - *An Unthymely Death (Short Story Collection)* (2003) - *A Dilly of a Death* (2004) - *Dead Man's Bones* (2005) - *Bleeding Hearts* (2006) - *The China Bayles Book of Days (365 Celebrations of the Mystery, Myth, and Magic of Herbs)* (2006) - *Spanish Dagger* (2007) - *Nightshade* (2008) - *Wormwood* (2009) - *Holly Blues* (2010) - *Mourning Gloria* (2011) - *Cat's Claw* (2012) - *Widow's Tears* (2013) - *Death Come Quickly* (2014) - *Bittersweet* (2015) - *Blood Orange* (2016) - *The Last Chance Olive Ranch* (2017) - *Queen Anne's Lace* (2018) - *A Plain Vanilla Murder* (2019) - *Hemlock* (2021) - *Forget Me Never* (2024) #### The Pecan Springs *Enterprise* trilogy The trilogy of novellas features characters from the China Bayles mysteries, focused on reporter Jessica Nelson and the *Enterprise* newspaper. - *Deadlines* (ebook July 7, 2020; omnibus print edition August 18, 2020) - *Fault Lines* (ebook July 21, 2020; omnibus print edition August 18, 2020) - *Fire Lines* (ebook August 4, 2020; omnibus print edition August 18, 2020) #### The Crystal Cave trilogy The trilogy of novellas features Ruby Wilcox. - *NoBODY* (2019) - *SomeBODY Else* (2019) - *Out of BODY* (2020) ### The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter - *The Tale of Hill Top Farm* (2004) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-425-20101-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-425-20101-5) - *The Tale of Holly How* (2005) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-425-20274-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-425-20274-6) - *The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood* (2006) - *The Tale of Hawthorn House* (2007) - *The Tale of Briar Bank* (2008) - *The Tale of Applebeck Orchard* (2009) - *The Tale of Oat Cake Crag* (2010) - *The Tale of Castle Cottage* (2011) ### The Robin Paige Victorian-Edwardian mysteries These were co-written with her husband, Bill Albert under the name Robin Paige. - *Death at Bishop's Keep* (1994) - *Death at Gallows Green* (1995) - *Death at Daisy's Folly* (1997) - *Death at Devil's Bridge* (1998) - *Death at Rottingdean* (1999) - *Death at Whitechapel* (2000) - *Death at Epsom Downs* (2001) - *Death at Dartmoor* (2002) - *Death at Glamis Castle* (2003) - *Death in Hyde Park* (2004) - *Death at Blenheim Palace* (2005) - *Death on the Lizard* (2006) ### The Darling Dahlias mysteries Takes place in a fictitious town called Darling, Alabama during the 1930s. Centers on a group of amateur, mystery solving women in a garden club called the Darling Dahlias. - *The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree* (2010) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Naked Ladies* (2011) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose* (2012) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star* (2013) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush* (2014) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Eleven O'Clock Lady* (2015) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover* (2018) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle* (2018) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily* (2020) - *The Darling Dahlias and the Red Hot Poker* (2022) ### Nonfiction - *Work of Her Own: A Woman's Guide to Success off the Career Track* (1992) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-87477-767-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-87477-767-3) - *Writing From Life: Telling Your Soul's Story* (1997) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-87477-848-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-87477-848-9) - *Together, Alone: A Memoir of Marriage and Place* (2007) - *An Extraordinary Year of Ordinary Days* (2009) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GWMW_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GWMW_1-1) Lindsay, Elizabeth Blakesley (2007). [*Great Women Mystery Writers*](https://archive.org/details/greatwomenmyster00lind) (2nd ed.). Greenwood Press. p. [7](https://archive.org/details/greatwomenmyster00lind/page/n18). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-313-33428-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-313-33428-3). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bestjob_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bestjob_2-1) Kleiman, Carol (September 27, 1992). ["'Best' job may be found by walking out the office door"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108545568/susan-wittig-albert-children/). *Chicago Tribune*. p. 79. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-thyme_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-thyme_3-1) Albert, Susan Wittig (August 21, 2023). ["How I Got to be Carolyn Keene When I Grew Up"](https://susanwittigalbert.substack.com/p/bookscapes-1). *Place & Thyme*. Retrieved August 21, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["National best-selling mystery author to visit Marshall"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77111955/susan-wittig-albert-carolyn-keene/). *Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois)*. September 23, 2008. p. 9. Retrieved May 5, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Malice Domestic Convention - Bethesda, MD"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100412020049/http://www.malicedomestic.org/agathaawards_past.html). Malicedomestic.org. August 23, 1988. Archived from [the original](http://www.malicedomestic.org/agathaawards_past.html) on April 12, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Bouchercon World Mystery Convention: Anthony Awards Nominees"](http://www.bouchercon.info/nominees.html). Bouchercon.info. October 2, 2003. Retrieved April 3, 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Partners in Crime HQ*](http://www.mysterypartners.com/) (official site) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Susan Wittig Albert NYT Bestselling Author"](https://susanalbert.com/). Retrieved August 29, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Albert, Susan Wittig (2013). [*A wilder rose*](https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780989203500). Internet Archive. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9892035-0-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9892035-0-0). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Vanda (January 31, 2016). ["'Loving Eleanor' by Susan Wittig Albert"](https://lambdaliteraryreview.org/2016/01/loving-eleanor-by-susan-wittig-albert/). *Lambda Literary Review*. Retrieved March 5, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["The General's Women - Albert, Susan Wittig: 9780989203593 - AbeBooks"](https://www.abebooks.com/9780989203593/Generals-Women-Albert-Susan-Wittig-098920359X/plp). *www.abebooks.com*. Retrieved March 5, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Swanson, Jean; James, Dean (1998). *Killer Books: A Reader's Guide to Exploring the Popular World of Mystery and Suspense*. New York: Berkley Prime Crime. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-425-16218-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-425-16218-7). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Witches Bane by Susan Wittig Albert"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780684196367). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Hangman's Root by Susan Wittig Albert"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780684196770). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Rosemary Remember by Susan Wittig Albert"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780425149379). *PublishersWeekly.com*. Retrieved August 27, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Rueful Death (China Bayles, book 5) by Susan Wittig Albert"](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/susan-wittig-albert/rueful-death.htm). *www.fantasticfiction.com*. Retrieved March 5, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Love Lies Bleeding by Susan Wittig Albert"](https://www.biblio.com/love-lies-bleeding-by-susan-wittig-albert/work/61307?srsltid=AfmBOoo8f_UIGbpdKOOJP0Jy8tcaOcFbBSvgdXbHXlm2cTySnDluO6ZI). *www.biblio.com*. Retrieved March 5, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Chile Death"](https://www.bookstellyouwhy.com/pages/books/16030/susan-wittig-albert/chile-death-1st-edition-1st-printing). *Books Tell You Why, Inc*. Retrieved August 27, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Bayles, China. [*Lavender lies: a China Bayles mystery*](https://cmc.marmot.org/Record/.b14718868). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Mistletoe Man (China Bayles, book 9) by Susan Wittig Albert"](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/susan-wittig-albert/mistletoe-man.htm). *www.fantasticfiction.com*. Retrieved March 5, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Bloodroot (China Bayles, book 10) by Susan Wittig Albert"](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/susan-wittig-albert/bloodroot.htm). *www.fantasticfiction.com*. Retrieved March 5, 2025. ## External links - [Official website](http://www.susanalbert.com) - [*Persevero Press: The Home of Susan Wittig Albert's Author-Published Books*](http://www.perseveropress.com/) - [Susan Wittig Albert](https://lccn.loc.gov/n50014452) at the [Library of Congress](/source/Library_of_Congress), with 58 library catalog records - [Robin Paige](https://lccn.loc.gov/no94039682) at LC Authorities, with 11 records, and [at WorldCat](https://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no94039682) - [Susan Wittig Albert](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?7148) at the [Internet Speculative Fiction Database](/source/Internet_Speculative_Fiction_Database) v t e Nancy Drew Stratemeyer Syndicate Carolyn Keene Edward Stratemeyer Characters Nancy Drew George Fayne Ned Nickerson Writers Mildred Benson Walter Karig Harriet Adams Susan Wittig Albert George Edward Stanley James D. Lawrence See also The Hardy Boys Tom Swift TV series The Dana Girls Books Nancy Drew Mystery Stories The Secret of the Old Clock (1930) The Hidden Staircase (1930) The Bungalow Mystery (1930) The Mystery at Lilac Inn (1930) The Secret at Shadow Ranch (1931) The Secret of Red Gate Farm (1931) The Clue in the Diary (1932) Nancy's Mysterious Letter (1932) The Sign of the Twisted Candles (1933) The Password to Larkspur Lane (1933) The Clue of the Broken Locket (1934) The Message in the Hollow Oak (1935) The Mystery of the Ivory Charm (1936) The Whispering Statue (1937) The Haunted Bridge (1937) The Clue of the Tapping Heels (1939) The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk (1940) The Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion (1941) The Quest of the Missing Map (1942) The Clue in the Jewel Box (1943) The Secret in the Old Attic (1944) The Clue in the Crumbling Wall (1945) The Mystery of the Tolling Bell (1946) The Clue in the Old Album (1947) The Ghost of Blackwood Hall (1948) The Clue of the Leaning Chimney (1949) The Secret of the Wooden Lady (1950) The Clue of the Black Keys (1951) The Mystery at the Ski Jump (1952) The Clue of the Velvet Mask (1953) The Ringmaster's Secret (1953) The Scarlet Slipper Mystery (1954) The Witch Tree Symbol (1955) The Hidden Window Mystery (1956) The Haunted Showboat (1957) The Secret of the Golden Pavilion (1959) The Clue in the Old Stagecoach (1960) The Mystery of the Fire Dragon (1961) The Clue of the Dancing Puppet (1962) The Moonstone Castle Mystery (1963) The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes (1964) The Phantom of Pine Hill (1965) The Mystery of the 99 Steps (1966) The Clue in the Crossword Cipher (1967) The Spider Sapphire Mystery (1968) The Invisible Intruder (1969) The Mysterious Mannequin (1970) The Crooked Banister (1971) The Secret of Mirror Bay (1972) The Double Jinx Mystery (1973) Mystery of the Glowing Eye (1974) The Secret of the Forgotten City (1975) The Sky Phantom (1976) The Strange Message in the Parchment (1977) Mystery of Crocodile Island (1978) The Thirteenth Pearl (1979) The Triple Hoax (1979) The Flying Saucer Mystery (1980) The Secret in the Old Lace (1980) The Greek Symbol Mystery (1980) The Swami's Ring (1981) The Kachina Doll Mystery (1981) The Twin Dilemma (1981) Captive Witness (1981) Race Against Time (1982) The Broken Anchor (1983) The Mardi Gras Mystery (1988) The Case of the Rising Stars (1988) The Mystery of the Masked Rider (1992) The Treasure in the Royal Tower (1995) The Wedding Day Mystery (1997) The E-mail Mystery (1998) Whispers in the Fog (2000) The Legend of the Emerald Lady (2000) Mystery By Moonlight (2002) The Bike Tour Mystery (2002) The Mistletoe Mystery (2002) No Strings Attached (2003) The Riding Club Crime (2003) Danger on the Great Lakes (2003) Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland (2003) Other series The Nancy Drew Files (1986-97) Nancy Drew Notebooks (1993-2005) Nancy Drew on Campus (1995-98) Nancy Drew: Girl Detective (2004-12) Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew (2006-15) Nancy Drew Diaries (2013-present) Nancy Drew Clue Book (2015-present) Hardy Boys crossovers Be a Detective Mystery Stories (1984-85) Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Supermystery (1988-98) Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Super Mystery (2007-12) Other media Video games Secrets Can Kill (1998) (Remastered, 2010) Stay Tuned for Danger (1999) Message in a Haunted Mansion (2000) Treasure in the Royal Tower (2001) The Final Scene (2001) Secret of the Scarlet Hand (2002) Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake (2002) The Haunted Carousel (2003) Danger on Deception Island (2003) The Secret of Shadow Ranch (2004) Curse of Blackmoor Manor (2004) Secret of the Old Clock (2005) Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon (2005) Danger by Design (2006) The Creature of Kapu Cave (2006) The White Wolf of Icicle Creek (2007) Legend of the Crystal Skull (2007) The Phantom of Venice (2008) The Haunting of Castle Malloy (2008) Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses (2008) Ransom of the Seven Ships (2009) Dossier: Resorting to Danger (2009) Warnings at Waverly Academy (2009) Trail of the Twister (2010) Shadow at the Water's Edge (2010) The Captive Curse (2011) Alibi in Ashes (2011) Tomb of the Lost Queen (2012) The Deadly Device (2012) Ghost of Thornton Hall (2013) The Silent Spy (2013) The Shattered Medallion (2014) Labyrinth of Lies (2014) Sea of Darkness (2015) Midnight in Salem (2019) Mystery of the Seven Keys (2024) Film and television Nancy Drew: Detective (1938 film) Nancy Drew: Reporter (1939 film) Nancy Drew: Trouble Shooter (1939 film) Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939 film) The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977 TV series) Nancy Drew (1995 TV series) Nancy Drew (2002 TV movie) Nancy Drew (2007 film) Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019 film) Nancy Drew (2019 TV series) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Czech Republic Portugal Netherlands Norway Israel Academics CiNii People LibraryThing Deutsche Biographie Other IdRef Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Susan Wittig Albert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Wittig_Albert) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Wittig_Albert?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.