Sally Smith O’Rourke is the pen name of a collaborative writing team formed by Sally Smith and her late husband, Michael O’Rourke. For more than two decades, they wrote novels that celebrate love, courage, and the quiet moments that make life meaningful, including The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, The Maidenstone Lighthouse, and Meteor’s Tale (originally Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage).

A native of Glendale, California, Sally now lives in a small Victorian village in Southern California, just a short walk from her work at a local cancer research hospital. She began her career as a scrub nurse before moving into healthcare IT, carrying the same care and attention to detail into her writing.

After Michael’s sudden passing in 2001, Sally lovingly completed and revised their shared manuscripts, preserving the stories they dreamed of together. She has since continued to write independently, with novels such as Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen and Days of Future Past.

When she is not writing, Sally delights in baking, candy-making, sewing, and other domestic arts. She approaches life and writing with love, discipline, and a deep devotion to family, keeping Michael’s spirit and their shared passion for storytelling alive in every word.