A their American romance novelist, she is best known for works such as Foxfire Light (1982) and the Calder, Aspen, and Americana book series. Her novels sold hundreds of millions of copies during her lifetime.
She sold her first romance novel to the Toronto-based publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, in 1974. Her 1979 novel, Touch the Wind, was the first of her works to appear on the New York Times bestseller list.
She was recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records for having set novels in all fifty U.S. states.
She grew up in Iowa as the daughter of Boyd Clayton Haradon and Lena Louise Zimmer. She was married to Bill Dailey from 1964 until his death in 2005.
Her successful novel, Foxfire Light, was made into a film starring Leslie Nielsen.