Clark, Mary Higgins (1929–)
Clark, Mary Higgins (1929–)
American mystery and suspense writer. Born Mary Higgins, Dec 14, 1929, in New York, NY; dau. of Luke Joseph (restaurant owner) and Nora C. (Durkin) Higgins (buyer); Fordham University, BA in philosophy, 1974; m. Warren F. Clark (airline executive), Dec 26, 1949 (died Sept 26, 1964); m. Raymond Charles Ploetz (attorney), Aug 8, 1978 (annulled); m. John J. Coheeney, Nov 3, 1996; children: (1st m.) Marilyn, Warren, David, Patricia and Carol Higgins Clark (mystery writer).
Began career as a stewardess for Pan-American Airlines (1949–50); served as a radio scriptwriter and producer for Robert G. Jennings (1965–70); was vice president of Aerial Communications for radio programming (1970–80), then became creative director of David J. Clark Enterprises (1980); served as chair of International Crime Writers Congress (1988) and president of Mystery Writers of America (1989); following 1st husband's death, began writing; published 1st novel, Where Are the Children? (1975), which was a bestseller, followed by A Stranger Is Watching (1978), a 2nd blockbuster that was filmed in 1982; also wrote A Cry in the Night (1982), Stillwatch (1984), Weep No More, My Lady (1987), Loves Music, Loves to Dance (1991), Remember Me (1994), Silent Night (1995) and Moonlight Becomes You (1996), among others.