Maxine Paetro collaborates with best–selling author James Patterson, co–writing The 4th Of July, The 5th Horseman, The 6th Target, The 7th Heaven, The 8th Confession, The 9th Judgment, 10th Anniversary and The 11th Hour, just released in May 2012. All are New York Times #1 best–sellers in the Women's Murder Club Series.

Patterson/Paetro collaboration, New York Times #1 bestseller Swimsuit, was released on June 27, 2009. A first–class thriller, Swimsuit has been called "This generation's Silence of the Lambs."

Paetro also collaborates with Patterson in their new series, Private, which debuted in January 2011. Their latest entry in this series, Private, #1 Suspect, was published in January 2012.

Paetro has teamed up with Patterson in another new series, this one for young adults. The first of this series is confessions of a murder suspect which will come out in in September, 2012.

Before working with James Patterson, Paetro authored 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, was published for the first time in 1979 and W.W. Norton published the newly revised edition in Aug. 2010.

From 1975 through 1987 Paetro was 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, Country Gardens, Country Homes and is on the Garden Conservancy Open Days Program.

Paetro is married to surety bond executive, John A. Duffy, founder and CEO of consulting company, Manhattan Bridge, LLC.