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~ In Tribute ~

Feb 18th 2010Nicole Jordan
Nicole JordanNicole Jordan & On Writing!

dick francisI lost a treasured friend last week. Actually, I never met him in person, but I knew him from his words and characters and stories.

Dick Francis was one of my long-time favorite authors who brought me many, many hours of entertainment and joy. His life bio was interesting and unique: A former champion steeplechase jockey who at one time rode for the Queen of England, and who, in his second life, wrote delicious murder mysteries, mostly set in the racing world.

When I heard of his passing, I pulled out one his novels at random – TWICE SHY – from my keeper shelf  and started reading. That particular story came from the early 1980’s. It was a bit strange reading about dated details when the entire plot hinged around no cell phones and early computers that were so small they could only store 32K bits of data, including the program. But it also featured a timely hero for this week – an Olympic competitor in rifle dickfrancis2shooting.

Reading my Dick Francis novel was like slipping into a robe and comfortable pair of house slippers and sharing a hot cup of tea with an old friend.

Now that he’s gone, I feel as if I’ve lost a little part of me. So for a moment I’d like to celebrate his life and pay tribute to him and thank him for the way he touched my life, even Kathleen Woodiwissthough he’ll never know my feelings.

And as long as I’m paying tribute to writers who have touched me, I like to LaurieMcbainmention the late Kathleen Woodiwiss and the retired Laurie McBain, who inspired me to dream of writing my own historical romances. And two of my favorite traditional Regency writers who also retired some time ago – the delightful Marian Devon and Joan Smith. I miss you all.

   

Do you have authors you would like to pay tribute to if you could? Writers you really miss who are no long writing or who are no longer with us?

66 Comments »

66 Responses to “~ In Tribute ~”

  1. E.R. on 19 Feb 2010 at 1:02 am #

    I would DEFINITELY make a tribute for Betty Neels. I love Love LOVE her books. I am trying to collect as much of her books as possible. I find reading her books so enjoyable that I would never give/sell them away. They are TRUE keepers.

    I had only read two books of hers, but Ronda Thompson’s life ended far too soon. I would have loved to read more of her future works, but the ones that I had read I had enjoyed.

    Georgette Heyer is another author that I hadn’t read a lot of her books, but she has been a great inspiration to a lot of romance authors, so she is a great leader of the genre.

    And that’s it for now.

  2. Gillian on 19 Feb 2010 at 3:08 am #

    Louisa Mae Alcott. I loved Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom almost as much as Little Women. And E.B. White. Trumpet of the Swan was a huge favorite of mine.

  3. Angela on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:15 am #

    Kathleen Woodiwiss is the one who got me started reading romances and without her I wouldn’t have found all of the goddesses that grace us now. Each one of you will inspire another writer and they in turn will inspire another.

  4. Lorihandeland on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:21 am #

    I also started reading romance with Woodiwiss and I was very sorry to
    hear she passed.

    Two authors who have retired whose books I miss a lot are Lavyrle Spencer
    and Maggie Osborne. I enjoyed all their books.

  5. Lisa H on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:46 am #

    Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is also my favorite. I miss her work so much. She had such a way of painting a world I never wanted to leave. Her heros were always incredibly alpha and hot. Shanna is my all time favorite book, and I credit my writing aspirations to her.

  6. cail on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:48 am #

    Gillian, those are my favorite Louisa May Alcott books. It’s such a rarity to meet someone who loves those too. I always tell my DH’s mom and aunts that they live on aunt hill (they all live on the same street). Sadly they have never read the books and i had to explain the reference.

    I have a constant fear that authors will pass away midway through a series. I was terrified that I would not see the last of the Harry Potter books, or other series like it.

    Off the top of my head, this morning, I can’t think of anyone who I’d write about, mostly since I’m barely awake yet. But hugs go out to those who actually knew the authors that they miss, as well as those who have lost a treasured must buy or are simply nostalgic for older books.

  7. SuzyQ on 19 Feb 2010 at 7:43 am #

    Victoria Holt. I read a lot of her books when I first started reading romance. Loved the mystery aspect also. I think she also had several other pseudonyms.

  8. ladydawgfan on 19 Feb 2010 at 7:44 am #

    Margaret Mitchell. I think that she would have written a far better sequel to GWTW than Alexandra Ripley, who though she gave it a gallant effort, did not keep with the spirit of the original characters and lost the magic.

  9. Michelle B on 19 Feb 2010 at 7:53 am #

    Like many of you, Kathleen Woodiwiss, is my treasured author. I started reading romance novels because of her. She got me through some military deployments/separations from my DH when the kids were very little and I was so lonely. She is truly missed.

  10. Pesky on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:00 am #

    Wow Dick Francis passed. My dad raised my sister and I on him Clive Cussler, Max Brand, Robert Ludlum, Ian Flemming. I’m said to hear that he’s gone.

    Woodwiss definitely. She is the author that turned many to the historical romance.

    David Eddings passed in June 2009 as well. The Mallorean and The Belgariad are two of my favorite series of books.

  11. Gillian on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:11 am #

    I should have mentioned Kathleen Givens. Rivals for the Crown was beautifully written. Her passing was so sad and much too early.

  12. nancyg on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:19 am #

    Kathleen Woodiwiss was awesome! All the Birmingham series, espeically The Flame and the Flower, are on my keeper shelf.

    Robert B. Parker also passed away last month – at his desk, writing!! Like Dick Francis for Nicole, Parker’s books are total comfort reads for me. (The series Spenser For Hire w/Robert Urich, Tom Selleck’s Jesse Stone TV movies, and the movie Appaloosa w/Viggo Mortensen are based on his books).

    Also, Robert Ludlum – his thrillers (Bourne Identity!) were well-thought out and a blast to read!! I’m glad he left 3 unpublished finished manuscripts before he passed.

    Micheal Crichton – Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, etc. The man had a different way of looking at the world for sure!

    I’ve just gotten into Steig Larsson – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc. He finished the trilogy before he passed – right after publication of his 1st novel. :(

    Jane Austen – passed away much too young. All her works are instant classics – I can only imagine what she would have written had she lived another few years… would her view of the world have changed?

  13. Aly on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:21 am #

    I am a Classics girl. I would love to have some more from Austen, Dickens, the Bronte Sisters, George Eliot and many more. As much as I love the authors and books that are written today, nothing gets me all gooey and warm inside like a Classic :)

  14. ladydawgfan on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:24 am #

    BTW, can we mention music as well? Mozart was only 35 when he died. Imagine the glorious music left to be composed, had he lived to a ripe old age . . .

  15. Kay on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:41 am #

    I have been reading romance for so long, there are so many authors I miss…Elizabeth Chater, Patricia Veryan, Constance Gluyas, Freda Michel, Janette Radcliffe/Janet Louise Roberts, Arnette Lamb, Sheila Walsh, Elizabeth Mansfield, Dawn Lindsey, Charlene Cross, Julia Jeffries, Dorothy Mack, Norma Lee Clark, Edith Layton, Joan Overfield, Nancy Richards-Akers, Suzanne Simmons and how can we forget Barbara Cartland. I know everyone that has ever read a romance book has to have read Ms. Cartland, doesn’t matter whether you like her or not.

  16. Claudia Dain on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:45 am #

    I *just* started reading Dick Francis a few months ago and adored his writing. I found him, and then I lost him. News of his death struck me hard, though he lived a long, full life and had such a wonderful home life.

  17. Danielle R. on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:50 am #

    I don’t have any authors that have passed that I have read as far as I know. But I do have to say I got a batch of books to review that were part of a classic bunch wrote back in the 1800’s. I was thrilled. To think I was reading erotica books from the 18th and 19th century that shocked the world. While today’s generation is still somewhat gunshy about erotica, it was nothing compared to two to three hundred years ago.

    My husband loves the Wheel of Time series and was completely bummed to hear that Robert Jordan passed away. His works are continuing to be released thanks to his family and his meticulous notes. But the fact that he has passed away kind of makes my husband feel as if he is reading something surreal. lol.

  18. Freshechelle on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:57 am #

    Cynthia Wright who we discussed last month.

    I really liked Theresa Weir’s romances and miss them. She’s not dead, far as I know, but now she writes mysteries under Anne Frasier and it’s just not the same. Well, she’s doing what she enjoys, so good for her.

    Jane Austen? Sure I’d pay tribute to her but since she was gone before I got on this planet, not sure what that would look like.

    Anna Fields/Kate Fleming read SEP’s audio books and died last year in a flood. She was tribute worthy despite not being an author but serving as an author’s voice.

  19. Gillian on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:58 am #

    Cali, were they not the best? I’d love to pull them off the shelf and read them again.

  20. MizMacgyver on 19 Feb 2010 at 9:01 am #

    I am in the Louisa May Alcott and Kathleen Woodiwiss club, I loved all the Louisa May Alcott books, I was fascinated with Eight Cousins, I wanted to be part of that family. Even at that age I was in love with “Worm”. Like many others, Kathleen Woodiwiss started me on the road to historical romance. I have everything she ever wrote safely tucked away on my keeper shelves. I think I may have to start gathering the Alcott books as well.

  21. jcp on 19 Feb 2010 at 9:23 am #

    CeletDe Blasis

  22. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 9:25 am #

    You all have mentioned so many wonderful authors…. it’s making me really nostalgic.

    And yes, Pesky, music is a huge category of artists who have touched our lives. For me it would be Tchaikovsky. I grew up dancing to his wonderful compositions.

  23. Nancy Northcott on 19 Feb 2010 at 9:35 am #

    I loved Dick Francis’s books. And Tony Hillerman’s Navajo mysteries. And Marion Zimmer Bradley’s wonderful fantasies. And Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s science fiction.

    I discovered Dick Francis and Dorothy L. Sayers the same year and was seriously annoyed to discover that Sayers was dead. I rmember saying, “Well, there’s still Dick Francis.” Or there was.

  24. colinfirthfan on 19 Feb 2010 at 9:40 am #

    I had NO idea Dick Francis passed away. I am a huge Dick Francis fan. My favorite of his books are Break In and Bolt. I have read those books hundreds of times.
    I have so many of his books….. He’ll be missed.

  25. Amy on 19 Feb 2010 at 9:54 am #

    Do movie writers count? For me John Hughes was one of the best and passed away too soon. The movies he wrote I grew up with and are such cult classics, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty In Pink and one of my all time faves Uncle Buck.

  26. TrishD on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:17 am #

    Amy, I’m with you regarding John Hughes. It was as though a piece of my teenage years died when he died. My John Hughes fav is Pretty in Pink.

    For musicians it would be Michael Hutchence, lead singer of INXS. That was a very sad day.

    I’m going to add an actor or two… Heath Ledger and River Phoenix. They both were amazing actors and left us way too soon.

    I don’t know if I could add any authors, I think you’ve all mentioned those I would have myself.

  27. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:32 am #

    E.R. my mother adored Betty Neels — she still has dozens of her books that she regularly rereads.

    Trish, so true about Heath Ledger. It was so surreal for me, watch The Dark Knight the first time.

  28. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:33 am #

    Wow NancyG, I’ve never thought about what books Austen would have written had she not died so young. At least she lives on in spirit these days. I just finished watching the new Masterpiece Theater version of Emma — thought the actress did a wonderful job — and a reprisal of Northanger Abbey.

    And I loved Spenser, too!

  29. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:36 am #

    So many mentions of Alcott reminds me of another classic — Lucy Maude Montgomery, who wrote the Anne of Green Gables books. I learned to read from those stories, so I guess I can say they REALLY touched my life!

  30. Louisa Cornell on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:41 am #

    Love Dick Francis’s books and was so sad to hear of his passing. I inherited his entire collection from my Dad. They were some of the few books we both read and loved. Now Pops can meet him in person.

    Edith Layton is an author I truly miss. She went too soon and I LOVE her books. The Return of the Earl, Alas, My Love, How to Seduce a Bride, His Dark and Dangerous Ways. All fabulous books.

    And I agree with my buddy, Gillian. Kathleen Givens left us entirely too soon. Rivals for the Crown is one of a kind.

    Kathleen Woodiwiss is one of the first modern romance writers I read. I’m collecting her books in hardback because my paperbacks are too well-loved and read.

    And I have to agree that I would love to have more Georgette Heyer, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters and Dickens to read !!

    And Mozart’s music is forever my heart. Singing it took me all over the world and my only wish is that he had lived to write more.

    And Edgar Allan Poe !! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his stories ! How much more macabre would his work have become and how much more brilliant!

  31. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:42 am #

    Kay, you mentioned so many wonderful romance authors. One particularly stands out — Edith Layton. One of her super Regencies got me through a rough patch in my life many years ago.

    NancyN, Clarke was a legend. It’s impossible to imagine science fiction without his influence.

    Danielle, I know Robert Jordan had a HUGE following. Didn’t they just give the franchise to an unknown author?

    And that is very cool about the erotica books from the 1800’s!

  32. Sue on 19 Feb 2010 at 11:05 am #

    The very first romance novel I ever bought (and still have the much read & tattered copy) was “Katherine” by Anya Seton. That book is the one that got me reading romance novels. Kathleen Woodiwiss, Louisa Mae Alcott, Kathleen Givens, Victoria Holt, Taylor Caldwell. Another favorite is R.F. Delderfield. His series called “A Horseman Riding By” set in Devon at the end of the Victorian Era was wonderful.

  33. Julia London on 19 Feb 2010 at 11:19 am #

    Everyone mentioned here gets my vote.

    Here’s some trivia for you all: Kathleen Givens knew Dick Francis. He lived in the Cayman Islands, and she and her husband took an annual vacation there. They’d met in the bookstore and had a drinks a few times.

  34. Debra on 19 Feb 2010 at 11:45 am #

    Laurie McBain’s Moonstruck Madness is what got me started reading romance! I bought the book because I loved the cover. After that I was hooked. Then went on to Kathleen Woodiwiss and all so many others. But Moonstruck Madness will always be close to my heart. I still have that book, it’s a little worn out like all of her others, but I will never part with her books or Ms Woodiwiss.

  35. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 11:51 am #

    >>>Here’s some trivia for you all: Kathleen Givens knew Dick Francis. He lived in the Cayman Islands, and she and her husband took an annual vacation there. They’d met in the bookstore and had a drinks a few times.

    Wow, Julian… that is so cool! I would have loved to meet him.

  36. Danielle R. on 19 Feb 2010 at 11:56 am #

    Nicole,
    I found the article about Robert Jordan’s writing. I thought it was his family that was finishing up his writing but I guess I was wrong. Here it is:
    Tor Books has announced that fantasy novelist Brandon Sanderson will complete the final novel in Robert Jordan’s best-selling Wheel of Time fantasy series. Jordan died in September of a rare blood disease that effected his heart. He was at the time at work on the 12th book of his epic saga, A Memory of Light, and left extensive outlines, notes and audio recordings for its completion. The Wheel of Time series has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

    Jordan’s widow and editor, Harriet Popham Rigney, chose Sanderson for the job of finishing Jordan’s work and will edit the novel. Sanderson is the author of the fantasy novels Elantris, Mistborn and The Well of Ascension, as well as the YA novel, Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. He has long credited Jordan with inspiring him to be a writer.

    The final version of A Memory of Light is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2009.
    And the link: http://www.sffworld.com/news/473.html

  37. Amy on 19 Feb 2010 at 12:09 pm #

    TrishD, it was such a shame about River Phoenix. Stand By Me and My Own Private Idaho are my two favourite River Phoenix movies.

    Sue, I read Katherine for the first time last year, and it was so captivating. I haven’t had a chance to read any of Anya Seton’s other novels, but she started my Katherine Swynford fascination.

  38. Karen on 19 Feb 2010 at 12:13 pm #

    Kathleen Woodiwiss and Kathleen Givens, will definitely be missed by this reader.
    I recently read RIVALS FOR THE CROWN by Ms Givens, which I truly loved and is on my keeper shelves and will be reread many times. Ms Woodiwiss was recommended to me and is my first ever author in the romance genre that I read and which has led me to the goddesses as well as other wonderful authors. The Wolf and the Dove being my #1 Woodiwiss book.

  39. Louisa Cornell on 19 Feb 2010 at 12:18 pm #

    Another author I miss simply because he was one my dh’s favorites. Michael McDowell wrote under many pseudonyms, but my dh LOVED his Blackwater series – 6 novels covering the 50 year saga of a wealthy Southern dynasty with a paranormal twist. He also wrote the story and screenplay for the film Beetlejuice and for Stephen King’s Thinner. Stephen King once described him as “the finest writer of paperback originals in America today”. His final novel – Candles Burning – was finished by Stephen King’s wife Tabitha, they were all great friends. Michael McDowell died in 1999 at the age of 49 from complications from AIDS. My dh described his books as William Faulkner meets Stephen King. Really great stuff and VERY original. If you like gothic, Southern dynastic families and something a little off the beaten path, try them.

  40. Tanya on 19 Feb 2010 at 12:34 pm #

    I would have to mention Douglas Adams who passed way too soon. in the middle of a Dirk Gently novel that I wish had been completed. I miss his humor and insights soo much.
    Also though I did not read the Wheel of Time series my man did and when Robert Jordan passed that was a very sad day in our house.

  41. Janae on 19 Feb 2010 at 1:12 pm #

    Add me to the Louisa May Alcott fan club. My favorite 3 stories of hers are Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, and Under the Lilacs. I just need my sisters to move to CA to create our own aunt hill because I’m not moving back to MT. Jane Austen, of course, because she had to have more stories. And Lucy Maude Montgomery. Although, I have to admit that I’m a bigger fan of her Emily trilogy, which is semi-autobiographical with her own diary entries included in the books, than I am of Anne. F. Scott Fitzgerald is another one for me. The Great Gastby blew me away when I read it in high school. I think it’s time for Hollywood to remake it because Mia Farrow was not Daisy. Oh and John Keats – he died way too young and could have written so much more poetry.

  42. Rachel Gibson on 19 Feb 2010 at 1:47 pm #

    I too miss Lavyrle Spencer . Lavyrle inspired me to write, and I keep waiting for her return.

  43. elsiehogarth on 19 Feb 2010 at 2:19 pm #

    Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer are like comfort food for me. I go to them when I need a little cheering up or when I want those Ahhhh! moments. Persuasion was my first Austen book and will always be my favorite then Pride and Prejudice. These Old Shades/Devil’s Cub are my all time Heyer books then the Masquaraders.

    E.R my sister and I are also Betty Neels fan. I passed on my collection to her and she went in search of all the ones that were missing. She got them on E-bay and she has them all now. Harlequin has been rereleasing her books(6) every few months. The last time they released some were in December. My sister says that now some of the titles are being changed to make them more appealing or politcally correct.

    Kathleen E. Woodiwiss-the Flame & the Flower(Brandon & Heather) is reread every year by my Book Club. I consider the sequels the Elusive Flame(Cerynis & Beau)/ A Season Beyond a Kiss(Jeff & Raelynn) just like one big book. Other favorite is A Rose in Winter because it is a total Beauty & Beast story.

    Edith Layton the “C” books are my all time favorites: The Cad, The Choice, the Conquest, the Chance & the Challenge.

  44. Tal on 19 Feb 2010 at 2:27 pm #

    I think she does not write anymore, but I enjoyed Judith Ivory Books.. I have enjoyed all her books.. I wish she would write again… Tal

  45. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 2:44 pm #

    Danielle, thanks for the info about Sanderson. For some reason I think he has Utah connections, or at least the SLC paper did a big piece on him when the last Jordan novel came out.

  46. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 2:48 pm #

    Louisa and Tanya, I haven’t read those authors before… now I’ve got some more to put on my must check out list.

    Janae, I never read the Emily books, sad to say. I really need to do that.

    Rachel, that is so cool about LaVyrle inspiring you to write. I never would have guessed that.

  47. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 2:54 pm #

    Elsie, I adore Persuasion and Devil’s Cub. In fact, I leant my mother DC last summer under pain of death if she didn’t return it. She kept it for months and reread it about 8 times, until I told her she could get B&N to order her a new copy all her own. Her store actually had it in stock so she drove right down and picked it up, then mailed me my copy back.

    I learned many years ago not to loan out my all-time keepers to my mom but to buy her a new copy. I had lent her a fave Edith Layton book and Tom&Sharon Curtis book and never saw them again… had to buy new copies for myself. There are very very few people I would trust to return cherished books, but after DC, I might actually start trusting my mom again *G*.

    Come to think of it, that’s another author/couple I really miss…. Tom and Sharon Curtis aka Laura London.

  48. Sabrina Jeffries on 19 Feb 2010 at 3:42 pm #

    Lori, Maggie Osborne retired? I didn’t know that.

    I discovered an author years ago named Carolyn Hougan. I loved her books, but she only had three. I just went looking for her the other day and discovered that she died 3 years ago. Fortunately, she wrote 6 books under a pseudonym that I didn’t know about, so now I have others to read, but that will be the end, I’m afraid.

    Also really loved Pamela Caldwell’s books (and she was a friend, too). A few years ago, she dropped off the face of the earth, and I still don’t know what happened to her. I still have two of her books on my keeper shelf. Desire’s Song was one of my alltime favorites.

  49. Judy F on 19 Feb 2010 at 5:46 pm #

    I am a Kathleeen Woodiwiss girl. Shanna is my all time favorite.

    I miss Millie Crisswell’s book. I loved her big Italian family she wrote about.

    Arnette Lamb is another. I just couldn’t get enough of her books.

    I have a couple of authors that I read their first book and loved it. Then they never have another published. That is sad.

  50. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:21 pm #

    Sabrina, at least you found a treasure still left to be read! And yes, Maggie retired several years ago. It was sad to see, esp since I loved her books and she was a fellow Ballantine author.

    Judy, I loved Millie’s books too! She was also a fellow Ballantine author. I miss a lot of my friends from those days.

    Virgina Ellis was my biggest loss, however. Gin was one of my dearest friends, like a sister to me. I miss her dreadfully, both her and her wonderful books.

  51. Madeline Hunter on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:27 pm #

    Sorry I’m so late to the party tody—crazy day.

    I have a lot of Dick Francis’s novels. I always enjoyed the world he had built, and found all the horse stuff fascinating (not being into horses like some people, it was all new to me :) I also liked the way he introduced technology very early. I learneda about some of the potential for small computers from his characters’ use of early versions of innovations that would turn into Palms, etc. His guys were early adopters, and you could tell he himself was just amazed by some of it and had to describe it.

  52. Brenna on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:31 pm #

    I too loved Kathleen Woodiwiss, with Shanna being my favorite. I was so sad to hear of her passing.

  53. evlqn on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:44 pm #

    Georgette Heyer did more to foster my love of romance than any author I can think of. I grew up reading Louis Lamour; Mickey Spillane; Zane Grey; and Raymond Chandler, my uncles were all readers and I would read their books whenever i went to Grandma’s. My brothers and I had a running Louis Lamour battle going, whenever one of us put a copy of his books down, someone would swipe it to read. A book could have as many as four readers at any given time.

    I miss Billie Green’s books, I wrote my very first fan letter to Bantam about her books, they sent it on to her and she wrote a thank you letter to me. We corresponded for years before we lost contact.

    Nicole, my oldest son fell in deep love with Chopin’s Polonaise in A flat major Op.53 when he was four years old. He would climb the shelves to reach the stereo crank it to the pain level and turn on Chopin. His excuse was, “Mommy, you have to hear it loud so you feel it inside.” he still likes to hear the music inside.

  54. LoriHandeland on 19 Feb 2010 at 7:33 pm #

    Maggie retired a few years ago, Sabrina. They had something at RT, can’t remember which one. I was very bummed as I always thought her books were so fresh and clever and different.

  55. peggy sw. on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:20 pm #

    I miss Louis Lamour, LaVyrle Spencer, Dell Shannon, D.E. Stevenson, Elswyth Thane,Georgette Heyer, and Helen MacInnes. And it’s been way too long since I found a new one from Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters, Charlotte MacLeod, and Dorothy Gillman. Luckily, I keep finding new favorites.

  56. Robin/RBL on 19 Feb 2010 at 9:52 pm #

    Well, I have to get in a vote for missing Kathleen Woodiwiss too. “Come Love a Stranger” was my fave by her.

    I think I still have some Billie Greene books on my keeper shelf, she was one of my faves when I used to read the smaller, series type romances.

    And while she is still with us and hasn’t officially retired (that I know of) – she hasn’t had a book out in years and I totally miss Judith McNaught!!! A Kingdom of Dreams, Once and Always, Perfect, Paradise…I could go on and on. I have *all* of her books and miss her tremendously.

    I also miss Dara Joy (she is still with us, but has allegedly had problems with publishers or something like that). Her ‘Matrix of Destiny’ Series is awesome and I sooo wanted her to finish and give us Traed’s story. I keep hoping that one day, we’ll have it.

    I know we are all sorry to hear of our favorite authors retiring or passing away, but I’m glad we have so many good memories on our keeper shelves!

  57. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:32 pm #

    >>>His excuse was, “Mommy, you have to hear it loud so you feel it inside.” he still likes to hear the music inside.

    Oh, my word, elvqn, that brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful way of describing it.

  58. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:37 pm #

    Madeline, I particularly loved the way Dick Francis took ordinary guys (like physics school teachers in TWICE SHY) and turned them into heroes by using their smarts and unique skills to foil the bad guys/murderers. And he usually had a bit of romance too, which showed his SNAG (sensitive new age guy) side.

    Like I said, I’ll really miss him!

    One other mystery author I adored was John McDonald. Travis McGee was a hero to die for long before we had many recognizable romance heroes.

  59. evlqn on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:38 pm #

    Nicole,he did that to me many times. One of my favorite memories of him was in the second grade, I picked him up from school and he was telling me about a classmate who “Looks like someone stepped on her face, but mama when she sings.” The little girl had been in a horrific accident and lost an arm, leg, and part of her face. My son adored her.

  60. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:39 pm #

    Brenna, SHANNA was probably my fave after WOLF. I think Woodiwiss fans fall into two camps. Those, and the FLAME/ROSE/COME camp whose heroes aren’t quite as alpha/macho.

    It would be intesting if I could prove or disprove my theory by polling a bunch of KW readers!

  61. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:41 pm #

    Peggy, I have quite a few Helen M and Barbara M books on my keeper shelves.

    >>>I know we are all sorry to hear of our favorite authors retiring or passing away, but I’m glad we have so many good memories on our keeper shelves!

    So true, Robin! I love the way you put that.

  62. Nicole Jordan on 19 Feb 2010 at 10:45 pm #

    >>The little girl had been in a horrific accident and lost an arm, leg, and part of her face. My son adored her.

    Your son is obviously a very special person, evlqn! How old is he now, and does he have anything to do with music?

  63. evlqn on 19 Feb 2010 at 11:09 pm #

    My son is 38 now and he works for Netflix as IT trainer. He also has a karaoke band and sings in clubs in Portland. And yes he is very special and a great dad.

  64. E.R. on 20 Feb 2010 at 1:14 am #

    Robin/RBL: I miss Dara Joy, too!!! I heard that she had a problem with the publishers, and I also heard that she had a self-published work in the series you mentioned, though I don’t think it had good reviews. I wished that I could have it, but if it was that way, I rather wait for her comeback (if ever) to read her books.

    I had read some of the authors mentioned, and what you said made me think that maybe I should try reading a few of them.

    I totally agree with Mozard dying so young. I would have loved to hear more of his music.

    And since this tribute stuff encompassed artists of any kind, I thought maybe those artists like Monet and Raphael (to name a few). I’m just mentioning them, not actually paying a tribute to them. But maybe artists/painters should be mentioned since musicians are included also.

    I had read L.M. Montgomery’s works. I totally agree that she should be paid a tribute. Add L.M. Alcott. And the Bronte sisters, Austen, etc. They deserve tributes.

  65. Nicole Jordan on 20 Feb 2010 at 8:29 am #

    >>>They deserve tributes.

    Hear, hear, ER!

    And I agree, there are so many wonderful artists who deserve tributes. Monet is my very favorite… his work is just great for my soul.

    >>>And since this tribute stuff encompassed artists of any kind, I thought maybe those artists like Monet and Raphael (to name a few). I’m just mentioning them, not actually paying a tribute to them. But maybe artists/painters should be mentioned since musicians are included also.

  66. caz on 20 Feb 2010 at 11:44 am #

    dick francis’ wife actually helped write a lot of his novels and also researched the background for them. we have most of them at home and my grandparents were at the race which saw devon loch fall. he was quite a jockey.

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