Romance Authors Who Passed Away

Many romance authors who wrote books in the 20th century have left this mortal plane. Sadly, they have died recently or in the last twenty years. Romance authors Janis Reams Hudson and Mary Daheim just passed a few months ago

For that reason, Sweet Savage Flame has assembled a list of old-school romance authors who have moved to the great beyond. We’ll be dedicating an “In Memorium” page to these authors. Look for that in the upcoming weeks.

In Memorium

2022

• Janis Reams Hudson b. May 7, 1951 – d. January 15, 2022
  • Hudson wrote 40 books since 1991, many contemporary series, but also historicals.
• Mary Daheim b. November 7, 1937 – d. March 31, 2022
  • Daheim wrote historical romances from 1983 to 1992. Then she wrote many successful mysteries.

2021

• Miranda Lee b. 1945 – d. November 13, 2021
  • Lee, whose real name was Maureen, wrote for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin category lines.
• Valerie Parv b. 1951 – d. 25 April 2021
  • Parv wrote for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin category lines.

2020

• Emma Darcy b. November 28, 1940 – d. December 21, 2020
  • Darcy was the husband-wife duo of Frank and Wendy Brennan and wrote for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin category lines.
• Donna Kauffman b. March 18, 1960 – d. April 9, 2020
  • Kaufmann wrote about 70 series and full-length contemporary romances since 1994.
• Connie Mason b. 1930 – d. March 20, 2020
  • Mason also wrote as Cara Miles. She published historical romances with Avon and Dorchester.

2019

• Johanna Lindsey b. March 10, 1952 – d. October 19, 2019
  • Johanna Lindsey was one of the most successful authors of historical romance, one of Avon’s “Love’s Leading Ladies.”
• Rosemary Rogers b. December 7, 1932. – d. 2019
  • Rosemary Rogers was a blockbuster bestseller of romance, also one of Avon’s original “Love Leading Ladies”
• Judith Krantz b. January 9, 1928 – d. June 22, 2019
  • Her soapy, romantic fiction novels sold tens of millions worldwide and were made into successful miniseries.

2018

• Evelyn Anthony b. Jul 03, 1926 – d. Sep 25, 2018
  • A prolific British author of romance, mysteries, historical fiction, and more.
• Mary Kay Simmons d. July 16, 2018
  • Since the late 1970s, she wrote about 20 historical and Gothic romances.

2017

• Nan Ryan b. 1936 – d. 2017
  • Nancy Ryan was a writer of historical romances for several publishers, including Kensington Zebra and Dell.
• Sara Craven (Annie Ashurst) b. 1938 – d. November 15, 2017.
  • Craven wrote for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin category lines.

2016

• Roberta Gellis b. September 27, 1927 – d. May 6, 2016
  • Since the 1960s Gellis wrote authentic historicals, mainly medievals, She also wrote mysteries & fantasy romance.
• Jo Beverley b. Sep 22, 1947 – d. May 23, 2016
  • Beverley was a prominent author of historical romances.

2015

• Bertrice Small b. Dec 09, 1937 – d. February 24, 2015
  • Labeled the “Queen of Erotic Romances,” Small wrote lusty historical and fantasy romances.
• Colleen McCullough b. June 1, 1937 – d. June 29, 2015
  • Author of epics like The Thorn Birds and romances like Tim.

2014

• Valerie Sherwood (Jeanne Hines) b. July 29, 1922 – d. August 23, 2014
  • As Jeanne Hines, she wrote Gothics, as Sherwood, wrote historical romances, selling millions of copies.

2013

• Mary Wibberley b. 1934 – d. December 29, 2013
  • Wibberley wrote for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin category lines.
• Janet Dailey b. May 21, 1944 – d. December 14, 2013
  • Dailey wrote category romances for Harlequin & Silhouette. She also wrote contemporary romances for Pocket Books, selling 100-300 million books.
• Ida Pollock b. April 12, 1908 – d. December 05, 2013
  • British author of 120 romance novels.

2012

• Maeve Binchy b. May 28, 1940 – d. July 30, 2012
  • Called Ireland’s best-known novelist, she wrote stories about regular people with heavy romantic elements.
• Eva Rutland b. January 15, 1917 – d. March 12, 2012
  • One of the first Afro-American romance writers, she wrote about 20 contemporaries for Harlequin before ariting another 20 books.

2011

• Beverly Barton (Beverly Inman-Beaver) b. December 23, 1946 – d. April 21, 2011
  • Author of category romances and then romantic suspense and thrillers.
• Penny Jordan (Penelope Halsall) b. November 24, 1946 – d. December 31, 2011
  • She wrote Regency romances and World War II dramas under the pen-names, Caroline Courtney and Annie Groves, in addition to being one of Mills & Boon/ Harlequin’s best-selling authors.
• Jean Innes Saunders b. February 08, 1932 – d. August 03, 2011
  • Innes-Saunders wrote Gothic & historical romances under the names Jean Innes, Jean Saunders, Sally Blake, Rowena Summers & Rachel Moore.

2010

• Eva Ibbotson, (Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner) b. January 21, 1925 – d. October 20, 2010
  • British novelist who wrote romance, young adult, and children’s fantasy.

2008

• Flora Kidd b. 1926 – d. March 19, 2008.
  • Kidd wrote for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin category lines.

2007

• Kathleen Woodiwiss b. June 3, 1939 – d. 2007
  • Woodiwiss revitalized the historical romance and the entire romance genre with her publication of The Flame and the Flower in 1972.
• Anne Weale d. 2007
  • Weale wrote for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin category lines.

2000

• Charlotte Lamb (Sheila Coates-Holland) b. 1937 – d. October 8, 2000
  • As Lamb, she wrote for Mills and Boon/ Harlequin category lines and romantic suspense. As Sheila Lancaster, she wrote historical romances & Gothics.
• Barbara Cartland b. December 13, 1901 – d. May 21, 2000
  • Cartland was the bestselling romance author of all time, with about 1 billion books sold.

Your Opinion

Did you know these romance authors had passed away in the last few years? Were you a fan of any in particular? Did we overlook any romance writer you know has died recently?

Please drop us a line and let’s talk romance.