Julie Garwood
Born(1944-12-26)December 26, 1944
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
DiedJune 8, 2023(2023-06-08) (aged 78)
Leawood, Kansas, U.S.
Pen nameEmily Chase (team of writers)
OccupationNovelist
NationalityAmerican
Period1985–2023
GenresYoung Adult, Romance
Website
juliegarwood.com

Julie Elizabeth Garwood (née Murphy; December 26, 1944 – June 8, 2023) was an American writer of over twenty-seven romance novels in both the historical and suspense subgenres. Over thirty-five million copies of her books are in print, and she had at least 24 New York Times Bestsellers.[1] She also wrote a novel for young adults called A Girl Named Summer.

Garwood's novel For the Roses was adapted for the television feature Rose Hill.[2]

Biography

Julie Garwood born Julia Elizabeth Murphy[3] and was raised in Kansas City, Missouri, the sixth of seven children in a large Irish family.[2] She was the daughter of Felicita “Flip” Murphy, née Kennedy and Thomas Murphy[4] and had five sisters: Sharon, Kathleen, Marilyn, Mary Colette "Cookie", and Joanne, and one brother: Tom. After having a tonsillectomy at age six, because she missed so much school, she did not learn to read as the other children her age did. She was eleven before her mother realized Garwood was unable to read. A math teacher, Sister Elizabeth, devoted the entire summer that year to teaching Garwood how to read, and how to enjoy the stories she was reading. This teacher had such an impact on Garwood's life that she named her daughter Elizabeth.[1][5]

While studying to be a registered nurse, Garwood took a Russian history course and became intrigued by history, choosing to pursue a double major in history and nursing. A professor, impressed by the quality of her essays, convinced Garwood to write. The result was a children's book, A Girl Named Summer, and her first historical novel, Gentle Warrior.[5]

Garwood married young and had three children: Gerry, Bryan, and Elizabeth. The family resided in Leawood, Kansas. Although Garwood enjoyed her writing, she was not intending to pursue a career as an author. As a young wife and mother she took several freelance writing jobs, and wrote longer stories to amuse herself. After her youngest child started school, Garwood began attending local writers' conferences, where she soon met an agent. The agent sold both her children's book and her historical novel, and soon the publisher requested more historical romances.[2]

Garwood's novels are particularly known for the quirkiness of her heroines, who tend to have an ability to get lost anywhere, clumsiness, and a "charming ability to obfuscate and change the direction of conversations to the consternation, frustration, but eventual acceptance of the other party."[5] She was not afraid to tackle difficult issues, and one of her books deals with spousal abuse.

Despite her success in the historical romance genre, Garwood ventured into a new genre and began writing contemporary romantic suspense novels. Like her historicals, these contemporaries still focus on family relationships, whether between blood relatives or groups of friends who have styled themselves as a family.[1]

Her first contemporary offering, Heartbreaker, was optioned for film and was serialized in Cosmopolitan.

Garwood died at her home in Kansas on June 8, 2023, at the age of 78.[6]

Bibliography

As Emily Chase

The Girls of Canby Hall series

  • 14.What's a Girl to Do? 1985

(Under the pseudonym Emily Chase, Julie Garwood wrote one Young Adult novel).

As Julie Garwood

Young Adult

  • A Girl Named Summer 03/1986

Single Novels

  • Gentle Warrior (Elizabeth Montwright - Geoffrey Berkley) 10/1985
  • Rebellious Desire (Caroline Richmond - Jered Marcus Benton) 06/1986
  • Honor's Splendour (Madelyne - Baron Duncan) 12/1987
  • The Prize 08/1991
  • Saving Grace 12/1993
  • Prince Charming 06/1994

Crown's Spies Series

  1. The Lion's Lady 12/1988
  2. Guardian Angel 05/1990
  3. The Gift 01/1991
  4. Castles 07/1993

Lairds' Brides Series

  1. The Bride 07/1989
  2. The Wedding 04/1996

Highlands' Lairds Series

  1. The Secret 05/1992
  2. Ransom 09/1999
  3. Shadow Music 12/2007

Clayborne of Rosehill Series

  1. For The Roses 02/1995
  2. One Pink Rose 06/1997 (and in "The Clayborne Brides")
  3. One White Rose 07/1997 (and in "The Clayborne Brides")
  4. One Red Rose 08/1997 (and in "The Clayborne Brides")
  5. Come The Spring 12/1997

Buchanan/FBI Series

  1. Heartbreaker 08/2000 (Nick Buchanan/Laurant Madden)
  2. Mercy 09/2001 (Theo Buchanan/Dr. Michelle Renard)
  3. Killjoy 09/2002 (John Paul Renard/Avery Delaney)
  4. Murder List 08/2004 (Alec Buchanan/Regan Hamilton Madison)
  5. Slow Burn 08/2005 (Dylan Buchanan/Kate MacKenna)
  6. Shadow Dance 12/2006 (Noah Clayborne/Jordan Buchanan)
  7. Fire and Ice 12/2008 (Jack MacAlister/Sophie Summerfield Rose)
  8. Sizzle 12/2009 (Samuel Kincaid/Lyra Prescott)
  9. The Ideal Man 08/2011 (Max Daniels/Dr. Ellie Sullivan)
  10. Sweet Talk 08/2012 (Grayson Kincaid/Olivia Mackenzie)
  11. Hotshot 06/2013 (Finn MacBain/Peyton Lockhart)
  12. Fast Track 02/2014 (Aiden Madison/Cordelia Kane)
  13. Wired 05/2017 (Liam Scott/Alison Trent
  14. Grace Under Fire 07/2022 (Michael Buchanan/ Grace Isabel MacKenna)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Trotter, Karen (2000). "Julie Garwood breaks rank, ventures into the realm of thrillers". BookPage. Archived from the original on April 7, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 Donna. "Julie Garwood". RBL Romantica. Archived from the original on July 29, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  3. ↑ https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/kansas-city-mo/julia-garwood-11326777
  4. ↑ https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/kansas-city-mo/julia-garwood-11326777
  5. 1 2 3 Gold, Laurie (January 1, 1998). "Lunch with Julie Garwood". All About Romance. Archived from the original on February 18, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Julia Garwood Obituary - Kansas City, MO". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
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