The Unknown Ajax
Georgette Heyer

Unless you are a reader of historical romance, then there is a good chance that you will be unfamiliar with Georgette Heyer. Who is she? For a start, she’s one of AbeBooks’ top 10 bestselling authors during the 15-year history of this company.

Last time we looked she was behind Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, Agatha Christie and Stephen King but ahead of J.K. Rowling, Charles Dickens and James Patterson.

We have sold a huge number of this English novelist’s books because 1) she is loved by people who love love stories, and 2) many of her books are out-of-print so used bookshops fulfill the demand from her legion of fans.

Full Article here: link

Something wonderful happens when you mention Georgette Heyer to writers and readers. They start to smile (you can feel it in e-mails). They can't wait to tell you how they first discovered her books, where they were, which ones they read first. This is an author that changes people's lives because she is responsible for inspiring so many of the best romance writers writing today.

How do I know this? I've spent the last few weeks reading Georgette Heyer, reading about her, in Jane Hodge's wonderful biography The Private World of Georgette Heyer, and in discussions with readers and romance writers. Readers love her, have loved her, for decades but for romance writers Georgette Heyer takes on a more fundamental role. Laurie and I asked a number of writers how Georgette Heyer influenced them. Judith McNaught, for instance, sent me this fascinating story which I am passing on to you in its entirety:

Full Article here: link