July 9, 2007
The Queen of Romance
Written by RobynDeHart in News, Writers and Writing
The romance community received sad news this weekend when we learned that legend, Kathleen Woodiwiss had passed away. If you ask any historical romance reader how they got started reading and the majority will point this woman. She pioneered love scenes when it was taboo to even consider women reading such material. And she swept us away to far off places full of romance and passion and love. She is the reason I started reading romance and certainly the reason I ended up writing it. I was 17 when I picked up a copy of A Rose in Winter and those first few pages I just felt something click inside me. I just knew, that’s what I wanted to do to. I went on to read Shanna, The Flame and the Flower, Come Love a Stranger and the rest of the Woodiwiss greats and I passed them on to friends. A few years ago before I had sold I was at an RWA National conference and she was there to accept an award. The entire room fell hushed as we all realized her presence and then as she took the stage, we all took to our feet and the room was filled with applause and more than a few of us had to wipe away tears. She was a giant in our industry and she will be sorely missed.
A Rose in Winter is still my favorite romance and though my copy is tattered and torn, it will forever be on my keeper shelf. So what’s your favorite Woodiwiss and what did she mean to you?
5:03 am | Share This
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
I’m so sorry to hear this
I’d have to say Shanna is my favorite with So Worthy My Love a close second.
J Perry Stone Says:
she means the exact same to me, Robyn. she did to a lot of us.
My favs:
A Rose in Winter
Shanna
Ashes in the Wind
Wolf and the Dove
that’s about half her backlist, isn’t it?
Margo Maguire Says:
I think my favorite is A Rose in Winter, although there was something about every one of KW’s books that appealed to me.
Shana Says:
What a great tribute to a legend, Robyn.
J Perry Stone Says:
Did you hear? The poor thing had to deal with the death of her son, Dorren, who died unexpectedly in the middle of June.
I guess the grief exacerbated her cancer.
Such a terrible loss.
Helen Says:
My favourite of Kathleens book’s was Ashes in the Wind then Shana but I have them all and loved everyone of them. Kathleens passing is such a big loss to the romance community.
Helen
catslady Says:
I started with her too as so many others. I don’t think I could pick one favorite - I loved them all. It’s so sad. I had heard she was going to be writing more historicals.
Clarisse Says:
Wouldn’t it be nice if they set up a condolence book at National so people could actually physically write out their thoughts and condolences and it could be sent to her family?
Laura Says:
I remember a long, long time ago someone telling me I needed to read her and I was an instant fan. A couple of years ago I was on a second or third date and we were meeting at a book store that was having a sale and one of her books was close to the door and I snatched it up, seconds after walking through the door. I remember thinking that my date was going to think I was just randomly grabbing books because it was a sale but it wasn’t. It was because of the author.
It’s a great loss.
Kimberly Logan Says:
I was very saddened by this news. It’s definitely a great loss. A Rose in Winter was the very first romance I ever read, so I’ve always credited Mrs. Woodiwiss for starting me along the path to my love of the romance genre. Over the years I ended up reading and re-reading all of her books numerous times, but I think my favorites were The Wolf and the Dove, Ashes in the Wind, and A Rose in Winter. All of these are on my keeper shelf and will probably be re-read many more times to come.
The romance community will miss her. Readers and authors alike.