Julie Garwood, a highly accomplished and bestselling author known for her captivating tales of romance and intrigue, passed away on June 8 at the age of 78. Her home in Leawood, Kan, served as the backdrop for her extensive collection of works, which effortlessly transported readers from medieval English castles under siege to the mysterious bayous of Louisiana. The cause of her death has not been announced by her family.
With over 30 books to her name and an impressive record of selling more than 35 million copies, Garwood amassed a devoted fan base. Her stories combined the passionate intensity of the romance genre with the meticulous attention to detail reminiscent of a historian or masterful whodunit writer. Her heroines were often cunning and resilient, but also possessed a unique blend of wit and eccentricity, mirroring the diverse women she encountered during her Irish American upbringing.
While Garwood’s novels were renowned for their steamy love scenes, she intentionally veered away from explicit content, striving instead for a perfect balance of romance and sensuality. In an online Q&A session, she expressed her desire for her love scenes to be both tender and innovative, avoiding the predictability of traditional romance narratives.
Some of Garwood’s works featured recurring characters, such as the Clayborne clan in her popular “Rose” series, which commenced in 1995 with “For the Roses.” This story, primarily set in the late 19th century Montana territory, captured the attention of viewers when it was adapted into a beloved TV movie called “Rose Hill” in 1997, starring Jennifer Garner.
Although critics occasionally criticized Garwood’s formulaic plotlines and what they viewed as awkward narrative style, her dedicated followers readily forgave these perceived shortcomings. Garwood consistently remained a prominent figure at romance fiction conventions and book events. Her personal background, which she often recounted, added depth and intrigue to her stories.
Garwood’s childhood was riddled with bouts of illness, causing her to miss long periods of school. At the age of 6, she underwent a tonsillectomy that resulted in an extensive recovery. By the time she reached 11, she still struggled with reading. It was during a remedial reading class at a church that Garwood encountered Sister Mary Elizabeth, a math teacher who became her tutor. This experience became a turning point for Garwood, instilling in her a profound love for literature. She was introduced to Nancy Drew mysteries and the short stories of O. Henry, relying on a dictionary to decipher unfamiliar words. So significant was this formative summer that Garwood named her daughter Elizabeth in honor of her mentor.
Garwood’s Catholic education also left an indelible mark on her writing. Nuns, churches, and religious symbolism regularly made appearances in her novels. In “The Prize” (1991), set in 11th-century England, a Saxon woman escapes the turmoil of the Norman invasion by disguising herself as a nun. Later, she falls in love with the baron commanding the invasion forces.
The genesis of “Heartbreaker,” a novel published in 2000 set in the late 1990s, can be attributed to a moment when Garwood found herself contemplating a confessional in a Catholic church in London. Intrigued by the idea of confessing a sin that hadn’t yet been committed, Garwood delved into a gripping tale. The story revolves around a killer who confides his sinister intentions to a priest, intending to make the hunt for his next victim more challenging. However, as fate would have it, the intended target turns out to be the sister of the priest. A dashing FBI agent becomes entwined in the pursuit, leading to a heartfelt romance.
“Mercy” (2001) marked a shift in Garwood’s writing, as she delved into contemporary thrillers set in the vibrant landscapes of New Orleans and the bayou. The Buchanan family, introduced in this novel, would become a recurring element in her work. FBI agents, Boston police detectives, and even a former Navy SEAL feature as protagonists in subsequent stories, each entangled in their own web of danger and romance.
Garwood staunchly rejected the notion that her writing adhered to outdated gender stereotypes. In her novels, the women proved to be intellectual and sexual equals to their male counterparts, often demonstrating superior wit and intuition. She attributed her strong voice and warped sense of humor to her upbringing, and appreciated her family’s influence in shaping her writing style.
Born Julia Elizabeth Murphy on December 26, 1944, in Kansas City, Mo., Garwood was one of seven siblings. Her father, a World War I veteran who served alongside future President Harry S. Truman, held various jobs and was an amateur boxer. Her mother dedicated herself to homemaking. After raising her family, Garwood pursued nursing at Avila College in Kansas City, later adding history as a double major after discovering a passion for Russian studies. It was during this time that she came to realize her real name was Julia, despite being known as Julie. Encouraged by a professor impressed by her essays, Garwood took time off to write, resulting in the manuscript for her young adult novel, “A Girl Named Summer,” which was eventually published in 1986. Simultaneously, she began laying the foundation for a historical novel centered around a noblewoman seeking vengeance for her family’s murder in feudal Britain.
At a writer’s conference at Avila College in the early 1980s, Garwood found a kindred spirit in agent Andrea Cirillo. Cirillo, who took notice of Garwood standing shyly in a corner, intended to represent authors of children’s books but, upon learning about Garwood’s historical romance manuscript, was intrigued. The book, retitled “Gentle Warrior,” was published in 1985 and achieved favorable sales, prompting Garwood’s publisher to request another novel. Thus began a nearly annual tradition of releasing an enthralling tale of past love and adventure. From “The Bride” (1989), featuring a fearless heroine in medieval Scotland, to “Guardian Angel” (1990), in which a marquis hunts for his brother’s killer and falls for a mysterious woman in 19th-century London, Garwood’s stories enthralled readers across the globe.
Garwood also explored works for young adults under the pseudonym Emily Chase, but her stories truly stemmed from an endless stream of daydreams. As she humbly admitted, her mind was always abuzz with tales waiting to be told.
Garwood’s marriage to Gerald Garwood ended in divorce. She is survived by her two sons, Gerald and Bryan, and her daughter, Elizabeth.
As her reputation as a writer soared, Garwood often reminisced about the sage advice her mother gifted her in the early stages of her career. “My mom used to say you could be anything you want to be,” Garwood would recount with a smile, “but learn to type.”
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