Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, the name which comes into our mind instantly at the mention of the modern historical romance novel is no more between us. Her novels were known for character heroines with strong personalities, well detailed backgrounds and steamy sex scenes. She was suffering from cancer and was being treated at a hospital in Princeton, Minn. She was just 68.
She is known as the pioneer of romantic novels and also as the one who revolutionized the set up of the field. In her 35 years writing career, she has written some thirteen novels and was a known name among the writers who made it to list of The New York Times bestsellers. In a sense we can say that Romance began with her. Her demise is a great loss to the world of literature. She is survived by her son Sean Woodiwiss with his family; another son, Heath Woodiwiss; and two sisters.
Woodiwiss got a break in 1972, with her debut book, ‘The Flame and the Flower’. She was also the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Romance writers of America for the year 1988. She was born in 1939 in Alexandria, La. Her husband who was an Air Force lieutenant died in the year 1996. Carrie Feron, who was her editor for the past thirteen years, said that Woodiwiss was ‘the founding mother of the historical romance genre.’ He also said that her work can be compared to the works of great classical authors like Jane Austen. Despite of her constant battle with cancer, she did finish her final book, Everlasting, which will be out in October.
My personnel favorite is ‘Come love a stranger’ by her.
Her books-
Anthologies:
o Popular Fiction: An Anthology (1997)
Novels:
o Wolf and the Dove, the (1974)
o Flame and the Flower, the (1975)
o Shanna (1977)
o Ashes in the Wind (1980)
o Rose in Winter, a (1983)
o Come Love a Stranger (1984)
o So Worthy My Love (1989)
o Forever in Your Embrace (1992)
o Petals on the River (1997)
o Elusive Flame, the (1998)
o Season Beyond a Kiss, a (2000)
o Reluctant Suitor, the (2003)
Source: USAtoday
Image Credit: Romantika
