Difference between revisions of "Violet Winspear"

From Romance Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(→‎Books: fixed link)
m
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Category:Authors - W]] [[Category:Presents Author]] [[Category:Harlequin Romance Authors]] [[Category:Prolific Authors]] [[Category:Deceased Authors]] [[Category:1928 Births]]
+
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winspear, Violet}} [[Category:Authors - W]] [[Category:Prolific Authors]] [[Category:1928 Births]] [[Category:Deceased Authors]] [[Category:Harlequin Authors]] [[Category:Harlequin Presents Authors]] [[Category:Harlequin Romance Authors]]
 +
[[Image:Winspear_lucifersangel.jpg|thumb|150px|Lucifer's Angel by Violet Winspear]]
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
Prolific and beloved author [[Violet Winspear]] is considered a legend in the romance community. She influenced many authors, including [[Muriel Jensen]], [[Jane Porter]], and [[Trish Morey]]. She is especially recalled for her ability inject high degrees of sexual tension in her stories -- an essential element of good romance fiction. Winspear was born in 1928 and passed away in 1989.
+
Violet Winspear was born on April 28, 1928. Her first published novel was ''[[Lucifer's Angel]]'' in 1961. Winspear was a launch author for the new [[Presents]] line in 1973 with other popular authors [[Anne Hampson]] and [[Anne Mather]]. She wrote primarily from 1961 through 1987. She created a maelstrom in 1970 when she claimed that her heroes "frighten and fascinate. They must be the sort of men who are capable of rape". Winspear received hate mail for her comments[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/violet-winspear/]. Winspear's full comment, which clarifies her writing style was:
  
As a Harlequin [[Presents]] author, [[Violet Winspear]] published 45 books. She published 22 novels as an author for [[Harlequin Romance]], debuting with the imprint in 1961 with the title ''[[Lucifer's Angel]]'', the first of many "dark and dangerous" titles associated with her work.
+
<blockquote>I get my heroes so that they're lean and hard muscled and mocking and sardonic and tough and tigerish and single, of course. Oh and they've got to be rich and then I make it that they're only cynical and smooth on the surface. But underneath they're well, you know, sort of lost and lonely. In need of love but, when roused, capable of breathtaking passion and potency. Most of my heroes, well all of them really, are like that. They frighten but fascinate. They must be the sort of men who are capable of rape: men it's dangerous to be alone in the room with.</blockquote>
 +
 
 +
Interestingly, Winspear railed against the work of authors such as Harold Robbins. Winspear's forte was creating and sustaining sexual tension between her characters while building fantastic worlds. According to ''[[Passion's Fortune: The Story of Mills & Boon]]'' by Joseph McAleer, Winspear only traveled in her books, which were set in locales such as Greece. McAleer notes that Winspear peppered her work with local expressions through the liberal use of tourist phrasebooks. Her skills at peppering her work with foreign phrases lead to author Ethel Connell/[[Katrina Britt]] being asked to look to Winspear for guidance in her own work.
 +
 
 +
Authors who were inspired by Winspear include [[Muriel Jensen]], [[Jane Porter]], [[Trish Morey]], and [[Sandra Marton]]. Winspear's nephew Jonathan Winspear is also an author.
 +
 
 +
Winspear passed away in 1989 after a long battle with cancer.
 +
 
 +
As a [[Harlequin Presents]] author, [[Violet Winspear]] published 45 books. She published 22 novels as an author for [[Harlequin Romance]], debuting with the imprint in 1961 with ''[[Lucifer's Angel]]'', the first of many "dark and dangerous" titles associated with her work.
  
 
== Books ==
 
== Books ==
* [[The Awakening Of Alice|''Awakening Of Alice, The'']] - July 1978 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#246]]
+
* ''[[The Awakening Of Alice|Awakening Of Alice, The]]'' - July 1978 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#246]]
* [[Beloved Castaway|''Beloved Castaway'']] - February, 1971 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1472]]
+
* ''[[Beloved Castaway]]'' - February 1971 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1472]]
* [[Beloved Tyrant|''Beloved Tyrant'']] - July, 1966 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1032]]
+
* ''[[Beloved Tyrant]]'' - July, 1966 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1032]]
* [[Black Douglas|''Black Douglas'']] - April, 1972 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1580]]
+
* ''[[Black Douglas]]'' - April 1972 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1580]]
* [[Blue Jasmine|''Blue Jasmine'']] - May, 1970 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1399]]
+
* ''[[Blue Jasmine]]'' - May 1970 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1399]]
* [[Bride Of Lucifer|''Bride Of Lucifer'']] - December 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#30]]
+
* ''[[Bride Of Lucifer]]'' - December 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#30]]
* [[Bride's Dilemma|''Bride's Dilemma'']] - April, 1966 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1008]]
+
* ''[[Bride's Dilemma]]'' - April 1966 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1008]]
* [[Bride's Lace|''Bride's Lace'']] - October 1984 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#734]]
+
* ''[[Bride's Lace]]'' - October 1984 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#734]]
* [[The Burning Sands|''Burning Sands, The'']] - January 1977 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#174]]
+
* ''[[The Burning Sands|Burning Sands, The]]'' - January 1977 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#174]]
* [[By Love Bewitched|''By Love Bewitched'']] - August 1984 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#718]]
+
* ''[[By Love Bewitched]]'' - August 1984 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#718]]
* [[The Castle Of The Seven Lilacs|''Castle Of The Seven Lilacs, the'']] - August, 1971 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1514]]
+
* ''[[The Castle Of The Seven Lilacs|Castle Of The Seven Lilacs, The]]'' - August 1971 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1514]]
* [[The Cazalet Bride|''Cazalet Bride, The'']] - October, 1970 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1434]]
+
* ''[[The Cazalet Bride|Cazalet Bride, The]]'' - October 1970 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1434]]
* [[The Chateau Of St. Avrell|''Chateau Of St. Avrell, The'']] - November 1974 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#70]]
+
* ''[[The Chateau Of St. Avrell|Chateau Of St. Avrell, The]]'' - November 1974 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#70]]
* [[The Child Of Judas|''Child Of Judas, The'']] - June 1976 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#146]]
+
* ''[[The Child Of Judas|Child Of Judas, The]]'' - June 1976 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#146]]
* [[Court Of The Veils|''Court Of The Veils'']] - January, 1969 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1267]]
+
* ''[[Court Of The Veils]]'' - January 1969 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1267]]
* [[Darling Infidel|''Darling Infidel'']] - May 1976 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#142]]
+
* ''[[Darling Infidel]]'' - May 1976 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#142]]
* [[The Dangerous Delight|''Dangerous Delight, The'']] - October, 1969 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1344]]
+
* ''[[The Dangerous Delight|Dangerous Delight, The]]'' - October 1969 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1344]]
* [[Dear Puritan|''Dear Puritan'']] - February, 1973 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1658]]
+
* ''[[Dear Puritan]]'' - February 1973 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1658]]
* [[Dearest Demon|''Dearest Demon'']] - February 1976 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#130]]
+
* ''[[Dearest Demon]]'' - February 1976 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#130]]
* [[Desert Doctor|''Desert Doctor'']] - June, 1965 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #921]]
+
* ''[[Desert Doctor]]'' - June 1965 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #921]]
* [[Desire Has No Mercy|''Desire Has No Mercy'']] - July 1979 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#300]]
+
* ''[[Desire Has No Mercy]]'' - July 1979 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#300]]
* [[Devil In A Silver Room|''Devil In A Silver Room'']] - May 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#5]]
+
* ''[[Devil In A Silver Room]]'' - May 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#5]]
* [[The Devil's Darling|''Devil's Darling, The'']] - December 1975 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#122]]
+
* ''[[The Devil's Darling|Devil's Darling, The]]'' - December 1975 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#122]]
* [[Dragon Bay|''Dragon Bay'']] - June 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#12]]
+
* ''[[Dragon Bay]]'' - June 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#12]]
* [[Forbidden Rapture|''Forbidden Rapture'']] - January 1974 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#33]]
+
* ''[[Forbidden Rapture - Violet Winspear|Forbidden Rapture]]'' - January 1974 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#33]]
* [[The Girl At Goldenhawk|''Girl At Goldenhawk, The'']] - June 1975 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#98]]
+
* ''[[The Girl At Goldenhawk|Girl At Goldenhawk, The]]'' - June 1975 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#98]]
* [[A Girl Possessed|''Girl Possessed, A'']] - March 1981 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#420]]
+
* ''[[A Girl Possessed|Girl Possessed, A]]'' - March 1981 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#420]]
* [[The Glass Castle|''Glass Castle, The'']] - June 1974 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#50]]
+
* ''[[The Glass Castle]]'' - June 1974 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#50]]
* [[The Honey Is Bitter|''Honey Is Bitter, The'']] - May 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#6]]
+
* ''[[The Honey Is Bitter|Honey Is Bitter, The]]'' - May 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#6]]
* [[House Of Strangers|''House Of Strangers'']] - November 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#27]]
+
* ''[[House Of Strangers - Violet Winspear|House Of Strangers]]'' - November 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#27]]
* [[The Kisses And The Wine|''Kisses And The Wine, The'']] - August 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#18]]
+
* ''[[The Kisses And The Wine|Kisses And The Wine, The]]'' - August 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#18]]
* [[The Little Nobody|''Little Nobody, The'']] - July 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#15]]
+
* ''[[The Little Nobody|Little Nobody, The]]'' - July 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#15]]
* [[The Love Battle|''Love Battle, The'']] - February 1978 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#226]]
+
* ''[[The Love Battle|Love Battle, The]]'' - February 1978 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#226]]
* [[Love In A Stranger's Arms|''Love In A Stranger's Arms'']] - November 1977 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#214]]
+
* ''[[Love In A Stranger's Arms]]'' - November 1977 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#214]]
* [[Love Is The Honey|''Love Is The Honey'']] - April 1980 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#354]]
+
* ''[[Love Is The Honey]]'' - April 1980 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#354]]
* [[Love's Agony|''Love's Agony'']] - August 1981 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#450]]
+
* ''[[Love's Agony]]'' - August 1981 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#450]]
* [[Love's Prisoner|''Love's Prisoner'']] - February 1974 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#36]]
+
* ''[[Love's Prisoner - Violet Winspear|Love's Prisoner]]'' - February 1974 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#36]]
* [[The Loved And The Feared|''Loved And The Feared, The'']] - May 1978 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#238]]
+
* ''[[The Loved And The Feared|Loved And The Feared, The]]'' - May 1978 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#238]]
* [[Lucifer's Angel|''Lucifer's Angel'']] - 1961 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #593]]
+
* ''[[Lucifer's Angel]]'' - 1961 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#593]]
* [[The Man She Married - Violet Winspear|''Man She Married, The'']] - January 1983 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#566]]
+
* ''[[The Man She Married - Violet Winspear|Man She Married, The]]'' - January 1983 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#566]]
* [[No Man Of Her Own|''No Man Of Her Own'']] - March 1982 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#492]]
+
* ''[[No Man Of Her Own]]'' - March 1982 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#492]]
* [[The Noble Savage|''Noble Savage, The'']] - April 1975 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#90]]
+
* ''[[The Noble Savage|Noble Savage, The]]'' - April 1975 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#90]]
* [[Nurse At Cap Flamingo / Cap Flamingo|''Nurse At Cap Flamingo / Cap Flamingo'']] - January, 1965 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #884]]
+
* ''[[Nurse At Cap Flamingo]]'' - January 1965 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#884]]
* [[The Pagan Island|''Pagan Island, The'']] - August, 1972 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1616]]
+
* ''[[The Pagan Island|Pagan Island, The]]'' - August 1972 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1616]]
* [[Palace Of The Peacocks|''Palace Of The Peacocks'']] - July, 1969 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1318]]
+
* ''[[Palace Of The Peacocks]]'' - July 1969 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1318]]
* [[Palace Of The Pomegranate|''Palace Of The Pomegranate'']] - October 1975 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#114]]
+
* ''[[Palace Of The Pomegranate]]'' - October 1975 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#114]]
* [[The Passionate Sinner|''Passionate Sinner, The'']] - January 1978 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#222]]
+
* ''[[The Passionate Sinner|Passionate Sinner, The]]'' - January 1978 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#222]]
* [[Pilgrim's Castle|''Pilgrim's Castle'']] - October 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#24]]
+
* ''[[Pilgrim's Castle]]'' - October 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#24]]
* [[Raintree Valley|''Raintree Valley'']] - January, 1972 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1555]]
+
* ''[[Raintree Valley]]'' - January, 1972 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1555]]
* [[Rapture Of The Desert|''Rapture Of The Desert'']] - April, 1973 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1680]]
+
* ''[[Rapture Of The Desert]]'' - April 1973 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1680]]
* [[Satan Took A Bride|''Satan Took A Bride'']] - April 1976 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#138]]
+
* ''[[Satan Took A Bride]]'' - April 1976 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#138]]
* [[Secret Fire|''Secret Fire'']] - March, 1985 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #2682]]
+
* ''[[Secret Fire - Violet Winspear|Secret Fire]]'' - March 1985 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#2682]]
* [[The Sheik's Captive|''Sheik's Captive, The'']] - November 1979 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#324]]
+
* ''[[The Sheik's Captive|Sheik's Captive, The]]'' - November 1979 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#324]]
* [[A Silken Barbarity|''Silken Barbarity, A'']] - August 1987 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#1006]]
+
* ''[[A Silken Barbarity|Silken Barbarity, A]]'' - August 1987 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#1006]]
* [[The Silver Slave|''Silver Slave, The'']] - November, 1972 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1637]]
+
* ''[[The Silver Slave|Silver Slave, The]]'' - November, 1972 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1637]]
* [[The Sin Of Cynara|''Sin Of Cynara, The'']] - October 1976 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#162]]
+
* ''[[The Sin Of Cynara|Sin Of Cynara, The]]'' - October 1976 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#162]]
* [[The Strange Waif|''Strange Waif, The'']] - April 1974 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#42]]
+
* ''[[The Strange Waif|Strange Waif, The]]'' - April 1974 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#42]]
* [[Sun Lord's Woman|''Sun Lord's Woman'']] - January 1986 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#854]]
+
* ''[[Sun Lord's Woman]]'' - January 1986 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#854]]
* [[The Sun Tower|''The Sun Tower'']] - February 1977 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#178]]
+
* ''[[The Sun Tower|Sun Tower, The]]'' - February 1977 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#178]]
* [[Tawny Sands|''Tawny Sands'']] - March 1974 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#39]]
+
* ''[[Tawny Sands]]'' - March 1974 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#39]]
* [[Tender Is The Tyrant|''Tender Is The Tyrant'']] - May, 1968 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1208]]
+
* ''[[Tender Is The Tyrant]]'' - May 1968 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1208]]
* [[Time Of The Temptress|''Time Of The Temptress'']] - March 1978 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#230]]
+
* ''[[Time Of The Temptress]]'' - March 1978 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#230]]
* [[The Tower Of The Captive|''Tower Of The Captive, The'']] - May, 1967 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1111]]
+
* ''[[The Tower Of The Captive|Tower Of The Captive, The]]'' - May 1967 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1111]]
* [[The Unwilling Bride - Violet Winspear|''Unwilling Bride, The'']] - September 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#21]]
+
* ''[[The Unwilling Bride - Violet Winspear|Unwilling Bride, The]]'' - September 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#21]]
* [[The Valdez Marriage|''Valdez Marriage, The'']] - May 1979 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#288]]
+
* ''[[The Valdez Marriage|Valdez Marriage, The]]'' - May 1979 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#288]]
* [[The Viking Stranger|''Viking Stranger, The'']] - January, 1967 [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|Harlequin Romance #1080]]
+
* ''[[The Viking Stranger|Viking Stranger, The]]'' - January 1967 [[Harlequin Romance]] [[Harlequin Romance By The Numbers|#1080]]
* [[Wife Without Kisses|''Wife Without Kisses'']] - June 1973 [[Presents]], [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#9]]
+
* ''[[Wife Without Kisses|Wife Without Kisses]]'' - June 1973 [[Harlequin Presents]] [[Harlequin Presents By The Numbers|#9]]

Latest revision as of 10:01, 5 January 2012

Lucifer's Angel by Violet Winspear

Biography

Violet Winspear was born on April 28, 1928. Her first published novel was Lucifer's Angel in 1961. Winspear was a launch author for the new Presents line in 1973 with other popular authors Anne Hampson and Anne Mather. She wrote primarily from 1961 through 1987. She created a maelstrom in 1970 when she claimed that her heroes "frighten and fascinate. They must be the sort of men who are capable of rape". Winspear received hate mail for her comments[1]. Winspear's full comment, which clarifies her writing style was:

I get my heroes so that they're lean and hard muscled and mocking and sardonic and tough and tigerish and single, of course. Oh and they've got to be rich and then I make it that they're only cynical and smooth on the surface. But underneath they're well, you know, sort of lost and lonely. In need of love but, when roused, capable of breathtaking passion and potency. Most of my heroes, well all of them really, are like that. They frighten but fascinate. They must be the sort of men who are capable of rape: men it's dangerous to be alone in the room with.

Interestingly, Winspear railed against the work of authors such as Harold Robbins. Winspear's forte was creating and sustaining sexual tension between her characters while building fantastic worlds. According to Passion's Fortune: The Story of Mills & Boon by Joseph McAleer, Winspear only traveled in her books, which were set in locales such as Greece. McAleer notes that Winspear peppered her work with local expressions through the liberal use of tourist phrasebooks. Her skills at peppering her work with foreign phrases lead to author Ethel Connell/Katrina Britt being asked to look to Winspear for guidance in her own work.

Authors who were inspired by Winspear include Muriel Jensen, Jane Porter, Trish Morey, and Sandra Marton. Winspear's nephew Jonathan Winspear is also an author.

Winspear passed away in 1989 after a long battle with cancer.

As a Harlequin Presents author, Violet Winspear published 45 books. She published 22 novels as an author for Harlequin Romance, debuting with the imprint in 1961 with Lucifer's Angel, the first of many "dark and dangerous" titles associated with her work.

Books