A New Literary Angel

I used to consider myself a book snob. If “everyone” was reading a book, I didn’t touch it. When high school friends were reading Romance novels at the lunch table, I looked the other way.

Well, almost.

I read Jaws. I read Anne McCaffrey. I even read Gothic novels (oh, Victoria Holt, how I read through her work like a fish swimming through water) I just wouldn’t touch something when I was told “you *have* to read this” or “everyone is reading it!”

I was young. I was still a bit rebellious (Give me my Shakespeare and Poe – with a dash of Stephen King!) and wanted no part of that unknown entity called “everyone.”

Then it happened.

Mind you, I can’t remember the first Romance novel I read. I remember who recommended it. I remember it was historical and that the person that recommended it liked it because it had a happy ending.

What I didn’t know then is that “happily ever after” is a Romance standard.

After that, I gobbled up books by Jill Barnett, Kathleen Woodiwiss, and so many more.

During a time in my life, before I lost faith in romance (don’t worry, that faith came back a few decades later), I wanted to be a Romance writer all because of those talented authors. Jude Deveraux, Johanna Lindsey, and so many others inspired me. I started researching and learning about character building. I even had an artist friend draw me a “hero” to help me focus.

But I digress. Where was I?

Ah yes…a name I hadn’t mentioned yet: Julie Garwood.

A Romance Novel great has left the earth.

The Bride, The Gift, The Prize, For the Roses. These are titles etched in my memories from those early days of Romance reading. These are stories that made me believe “that’s what I want to write.”

I’d like to think she is up in the heavens with the authors and writers that inspired her. She certainly inspired me. She definitely inspired many of the Romance novelists of today who are grieving the loss of a peer, a friend, and an inspiration.

Raising a glass to those that inspire us.

Llama