Award-winning author Vijaya Schartz never conformed to anything and could never refuse a challenge. She writes strong heroines, brave heroes, and cats. She likes action and exotic settings, in life and on the page. She traveled the world and claims she must be a time traveler, since she writes with the same ease about the far past and the far future. With over thirty titles published, Vijaya Schartz writes action adventure laced with sensuality and suspense, in exotic, medieval, or futuristic settings. Her books collected many five star reviews and literary awards. She makes you believe you actually lived these extraordinary adventures among her characters. Her stories have been compared to Indiana Jones with sizzling romance, and she takes that as a compliment anytime. She writes to entertain. Contact Vijaya HERE

Author Vijaya Schartz was awarded the Best of Glendale Award in 2019 and 2021 in the Media & Entertainment category by the Glendale Award Program.

"Each year, this program identifies companies and individuals that we believe have achieved exceptional success in their local community and business category. These exceptional companies and people help make the Glendale area a great place to live, work and play."
The Glendale Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Glendale Award Program and data provided by third parties. Only one winner is selected in each category.
 

King Pasha - current ruler

RIP Princess Jasmine
(2006 - 2023)

15,000 feet Tandem Jump in Eloy Arizona

Aikido demonstration in Honolulu Hawaii

Surfing in Hawaii

Vijaya Schartz did it all.  Before becoming a professional writer, she acted on Stage and Television in Paris, France, and on tours throughout Europe.  She sang in Rive Gauche cabarets and studied voice and modern ballet.  Her paintings were also shown in several French exhibits.

In her spare time over the years, Vijaya was on the French National gymnastics team, a surfer, and an Aikido black belt in Hawaii. She is still a thrill-seeker and likes to jump off perfectly good planes or battle the river wild.  She now resides in sunny Arizona with her favorite and very spoiled cat,  King Pasha.

Nowadays, Vijaya practices Tai-Chi and hikes and climbs mountains on weekends.

 
A few of Vijaya's students on World Tai-Chi Day - April 29, 2023 -
Saguaro Ranch Park, Glendale, Arizona

Another World Tai-Chi day in the same park, a few years ago (pre-pandemic)

White water rafting in the Grand Canyon

DARING THE RIVER WILD

One hot July recently, she braved the white waters of the Colorado through the Grand Canyon in a raft.  Later, she rests in calmer waters, that's her in the picture, center back of the raft, with the white hat.

She even jumped from a high cliff into the chilly waters (it's really high - the scale is lost on the picture) Not the most elegant jump, but did you know Vijaya is deathly afraid of heights? That's what makes these stunts such a thrill. She was screaming all the way down.

GLOBETROTTER

Vijaya lived in France, India, Hawaii, Florida, and Philadelphia, before settling in Arizona.  She traveled throughout England, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Thailand, the Himalayas, Japan, and saw the Sphinx and the Pyramids.  She returns to Europe regularly to visit her family and do extensive book research.  She visited Luxembourg, Germany, Aragon, Forez and Brittany, to glean information related to her Celtic Legend series "The Curse of the Lost Isle."

INDIA - A SPECIAL PLACE

In India, Vijaya participated in the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage (it's her front and center) where she lived in an ashram (Hindu monastery) for many months. She even had a traditional Indian wedding, like in her novel Ashes for the Elephant God

PHILOSOPHY & SPIRITUALITY

Vijaya studied Cashmere Shivaism and Siddha Yoga in an Ashram near Mumbai, India, where she translated spiritual texts from English into French. She once belonged to the Rosicrucian Order, the Order of the Knights Templar, as well as the Martinist Order.  She studied paranormal phenomena, near death experiences, reincarnation, past life regression, UFO sightings, Alchemy, Tibetan wisdom, Zen Buddhism, and Shinto philosophies. Many of her early published articles dealt with philosophical and spiritual topics.

THAILAND

During a trip to Thailand, Vijaya did some parasailing, rode elephants (they sweat behind the ears) and became acquainted with her first live tiger, up close and personal. Good thing she loves cats. This one had to be placated to stand still for the picture. The arm is actually resting on the back of the beast.

RADIO PERSONALITY

From 2001 to 2004, Vijaya was the radio talk show host of AUTHORS SECRETS RADIO, first on KFNX1100AM radio in Arizona, then on BOOK CRAZY RADIO NETWORK (BCRN) worldwide on the internet, six times every Wednesday.  Her show was rated BEST TALK SHOW on BCRN for 2002 for excellence. On that show, Vijaya interviewed some of the greatest authors of our time, like the delightful  Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, now adapted into a TV series on cable.

TEACHER OF WRITING

Vijaya learned from the best and often shares her extended knowledge of the writing craft by speaking to various groups of dedicated writers. She created the WRITE PATH writing seminars. She now teaches workshops on the business of writing as well as all aspects of the writing life, at writers meetings and at writers conferences throughout the country.

CHAIRPERSON - ACTIVE MEMBER :

Vijaya Schartz was the President of the ARIZONA AUTHORS ASSOCIATION for seven years, from 1998 to December 2005, and served on the board of this organization, of which she is still a member. She also held the presidency of the VALLEY OF THE SUN ROMANCE WRITERS Chapter, and of the DESERT ROSE ROMANCE WRITERS Chapter.  She was Editor in chief of the ARIZONA LITERARY MAGAZINE for several years.  She hosted her own award-winning radio show about writing, AUTHORS' SECRETS RADIO, for over three years. Nowadays, she focuses on her publisher's deadlines.