Romance novelist Kathleen Woodiwiss dies of cancer

Author Kathleen Woodiwiss, creator of the modern historical romance novel with feisty heroines, ornate period settings and erotically charged adventures, died of cancer Friday in Princeton, Minn.

Woodiwiss, who had 36 million books in print, was 68.

The Louisiana native wrote much of her work in Princeton after she and her family moved there in the late 1960s. She may be best known for "The Flame and the Flower," which in 1972 was her first book; "Shana" and "Ashes in the Wind," said Carrie Feron, editorial director of Avon books in New York, which will publish her 13th novel, "Everlasting," in October.

All her books made the New York Times bestseller list.

Among the reasons why Woodiwiss was a heroine to millions of eager readers was that she was the first romance novelist to use the romance as the main plot, Feron said.

Her fans span the globe, Feron said. She recalled taking the author, unannounced, to a Romance Writers of American convention a few years ago.

"The people were overwhelmed, and gave her a standing ovation," she said. "I have never seen that before." Many of the writers in attendance said they owed their careers to Woodiwiss' pioneering work in the genre, Feron said.

Feeling for the characters

Kristin Kroeker of New Brighton, who belongs to two romance novel book clubs, said she admired the rich detail in Woodiwiss' historical settings and in descriptions of characters' emotions.

"I absolutely love her stories," she said. "She is so detailed that you feel just what the characters are experiencing. If a person is joyful or sorrowful, you feel all those things when you read her stories."

Nicole Kennedy, spokeswoman for the Romance Writers of America, said that before Woodiwiss started turning out thick novels in the 600-page range, most such books were much shorter and simpler.

The association will pay tribute to Woodiwiss on Saturday night during its annual national conference in Dallas.

'She was just Mom'

The author's family said that when she began writing, she endured many rejections, but stuck with it, re-editing and resubmitting her first book until Avon took her on.

Her son Sean, of Princeton, said he and his brothers grew up not really knowing of her fame. "It wasn't a celebrity type of thing," he said. "She was just Mom."

In the 1960s, when Woodiwiss' husband, Ross, was winding up his Air Force career, the family decided to make Minnesota home.

In Princeton, she would relieve the stress of long days of writing with flower gardening and watching classic movies, her family said. "Rebecca" was one of her favorites.

In 1995, Woodiwiss returned to her native Louisiana, keeping her Princeton home as well. In 2003, she moved back permanently to Princeton.

Woodiwiss' husband died in 1996, and a son, Dorren, died on June 17. She is survived by sons Sean and Heath, both of Princeton; two sisters and four grandchildren.

Services are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. today at Church of the Open Door, 9060 Zanzibar Lane N., Maple Grove. Visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the church.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ben Cohen • 612-673-4714 • bcohen@startribune.com