Maxine Paetro is the author of three novels; Manshare, Babydreams, and Windfall, published between 1986 and 1991. She also wrote the biography, Dream Lovers, the Magnificent, Shattered Lives of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee by Their Son, Dodd Darin in 1993. Her first book, How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising (non-fiction), was published for the first time in 1979 and is still in print today. Paetro has collaborated with best-selling author James Patterson, co-writing The 4th of July, The 5th Horseman and The 6th Target, all New York Times #1 best sellers in the Women's Murder Club Series. The series' seventh book, 7th Heaven, also a Patterson/Paetro collaboration, was published in February, 2008. From 1975 through 1987 Paetro was a recruiter and EVP creative department manager at several large New York City advertising agencies. Her garden, Broccoli Hall, has been featured in national magazines including House & Garden, Victoria Magazine, and Country Garden and is on the Garden Conservancy Open Days Program. Paetro is married to former surety bond executive, John A. Duffy, now founder and CEO of consulting company, Manhattan Bridge, LLC.