Luanne Rice

Luanne Rice is an American novelist. She has authored 37 novels, including three young adult books, which have been translated into 26 languages. Among her notable novels are The Lemon Orchard, Little Night, The Silver Boat, and Beach Girls. Her most recent book is the thriller Last Night (2024).

Luanne Rice was born in New Britain, Connecticut. At eleven, her first published poem appeared in the Hartford Courant, and by fifteen, her first short story was published in American Girl. Her debut novel, Angels All Over Town, was released in 1985.

She received an honorary degree from Connecticut College in 2002, where she also donated her papers to the college's Special Collections Library. Rice holds an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut.

In 2014, she was honored with the Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award in the Literary Arts category, recognizing her excellence and lifetime achievement.

Rice is deeply committed to environmental advocacy and supporting families affected by domestic violence. Her engagement in mental health awareness is personal and professional, particularly regarding teen depression, a theme explored in her novel The Beautiful Lost.

In addition to the printed page, several of her novels have been adapted for television. These include Crazy in Love for TNT, Blue Moon for CBS, Follow the Stars Home and Silver Bells for the Hallmark Hall of Fame.

Beach Girls became a mini-series for Lifetime in 2005. Additionally, Rice contributed a monologue to Motherhood Out Loud, a play that has seen performances from Hartford Stage Company to Off-Broadway and the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

Luanne Rice divides her time between New York City, Old Lyme, Connecticut, and Southern California.

Photo credit: Kristina Loggia