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| Julie Garwood (photo: Charles Bush) |
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Julia Elizabeth Garwood, known in the publishing industry as bestselling author Julie Garwood, died June 8. She was 78. Garwood wrote more than 30 novels; more than 40 million copies of her books are in print in 32 languages. She began her career writing historical romances before adding contemporary romantic suspense novels to her repertoire. She was working on her 36th novel for adults at the time of her death.
During her career, Garwood received numerous honors, including three RITA Awards from the Romance Writers of America, three Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards, and two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards.
Garwood studied history and nursing in college. Her interest in writing and enthusiasm for history led her to write a YA book, A Girl Named Summer, and her first historical novel, Gentle Warrior (1985). Her novel For the Roses (1995) was adapted into a Hallmark Hall of Fame production, Rose Hill, which starred Jennifer Garner, Vera Farmiga, and Justin Chambers. In 2000, Garwood turned to writing contemporary romantic suspense novels, beginning with Heartbreaker.
Her other titles include The Prize, Honor's Splendour, Saving Grace, and Prince Charming, as well as the Crown's Spies, Lairds' Brides, Highlands' Lairds, Claybornes of Rose Hill, and Buchanan-Renard-MacKenna series.
"I want my readers to laugh and cry and fall in love," Garwood once said. "Basically, I want them to escape into another world for a little while and afterwards to feel as though they've been on a great adventure."