Romance author legend Julie Garwood has died at the age of 78.
At the memorial online, readers are leaving hundreds of comments about how much her books meant to them, to their parents, relatives, friends. For romance readers, especially those around my age, Julie Garwood was a foundational author.
I wrote about Garwood at NPR in 2015 during their “Summer of Love,” spearheaded by the late and also great Petra Mayer.
Garwood’s books kept me company as I grew into adulthood:
The Bride is the one I’ve re-read most, despite the cover dangling by one corner and the brittle yellow pages that crinkle and crack like onion skin. It’s not just the story, but where I’ve read the story, too: I’ve brought it along on vacations, to college and back every year, and to different countries when I studied abroad. This book comes with me, because I like to know it’s there.
It’s true: I read The Bride so many times the pages dropped out of the glue binding and the cover fell off – and it was a gold stepback cover that I loved. I have such vivid scene memories of that book I can recall them instantly, like when she sets a broken limb and the whole clan kneels in respect. I mentally filmed that scene and rewatch it frequently.
In the summer, I’d borrow The Lion’s Lady ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) from the library and re-read it on the beach. Garwood, alongside McNaught, Coulter, and Deveraux, were the bedrock of my romance reading history.
Huh. Now that I think about it, Garwood, McNaught, Coulter, and Deveraux sounds like a law firm.
HANG ON.
Maybe THAT is the law firm that has written every bizarro-world will that made people live together to create the conflict of a romance.
I’m going to think it’s true and no one can stop me.
I am neck-deep in feelings about Julie’s death because I can tell you, she was one of the nicest, most welcoming people in the world.
Over 10 years ago now, Ransom was my book club pick for July 2013. For the discussion, I would host a live chat – text-based, not video! – with readers on the site about the book, and then invite the author to join us for the last half hour.
I did not think Julie would join us. I didn’t think she would reply to my email!
Not only did she agree almost instantly, but gave me her cell phone number so if there were tech problems I could reach her. I gave her mine in return, for the same reason.
And let me say, when my phone rang on the night of the discussion and a voice said, “Hi, Sarah, it’s Julie!” I had to sit down on my patio immediately because my knees no longer worked.
I’m not supposed to be talking to JULIE GARWOOD on the PHONE! That’s not real life!
But she wanted to make sure she had everything set so she could sign on and chat with everyone. Alas, the company that hosted the chat function went out of business, and I don’t have any archives of those conversations – I wish I did.
I do have archives of how many ways readers adored Julie Garwood’s books.
We compiled a recommendation list of Classic Romance: Which One First? for Julie Garwood in 2011, and while we were gathering the list in the comments, I received an anonymous email about how much Ransom meant to them:
Like I said above, the main theme is about protectors and I first read this book at a time when slept leaning against the locked bedroom door so we’d wake up asap if something was about to happen. A time when we walked on eggshells not knowing what would set off a violent episode. A time when we never felt safe.
So when I got to this one sentence from the scene above, an unexpected rush of tears fell down my face.
“You make me feel safe. I thank you for that.”
As I said in that post, “Romance is some truly powerful narrative.” And for so many readers, Garwood’s books were some of the most powerful.
I interviewed Julie Garwood in July 2022 on the podcast in Episode 520. Telling Stories with Julie Garwood.
She was still one of the nicest people to chat with, and she was the type of guest on a podcast where you can just press “Record” and sit back because there would be hilarity:
Julie: I know; it’s been a while. It’s funny. I always wrote when I was a kid, once I learned to read, which was late for me. I would write stories, and, but that wasn’t a career. My mom used to say you could be anything you want to be, but learn to type, and I always thought that was hilarious! But the idea was so you could support yourself while you’re going for your dream and, you know, get a job as a typist somewhere or whatever. And now that’s all I do is type all day, and I think she must be smiling down at me. I don’t know.
Sarah: [Laughs] So you can be anything you want in the world, but learn to type.
Julie: Yes! So I could support myself back then, you know? Could get a job anywhere filling in. And I actually got started writing historicals by chance.
You – You want to hear this?
Sarah: Yes, I absolutely want to hear this. I want to hear everything. Just tell me everything!
It’s one of my favorite episodes, and always makes me smile.
But my favorite memory of meeting Julie Garwood was at RomanticTimes in 2013.
There was a candid Q&A with Julie Garwood and Jude Deveraux, and my inner 13 year old was extremely un-chill. I tweeted so fast that I got put in Twitter jail and had to switch to a backup account.
I attempted to use gifs to fully communicate the level of giddy that was coursing through my bloodstream and I’m not sure I managed to convey what an astonishing hour it was. I stood up to ask a question and my heart was racing.
Definitely click that link for the photos at the end of the excitement of people meeting them both after the Q&A.
AH! I found a video of it!
So many romance authors, including Sarah MacLean (pictured in the link above) and Maya Banks, were beside themselves to meet Julie:
It feels impossible to fully explain how much Julie Garwood’s books have meant to so many people.
My condolences go to her family and her friends, the people who were fortunate to have Julie in their lives. And my condolences go to all of us, who read her books and maybe had the chance to tell her how much her writing changed so many people’s lives. Through her books, Julie Garwood enabled people to glimpse a different life for themselves, and turned thousands of readers into romance fans.
What’s your favorite Julie Garwood book? Do you remember the first one you read?
NO!!!!! 2023 is the worst year ever.
I am so sorry for Ms. Garwood’s family and friends. She will be missed by those of us who loved her books.
My favorites (because I could not name just one) are Ransom, Prince Charming, The Secret, Hotshot, Saving Grace, Honor’s Splendor. The list could go on. Her books are comfort reads and I find myself returning to them often.
It is time for a Julie Garwood binge.
I was devastated to read this news. I think it may be hard to capture for younger fans what her books meant to us in the 80s, when the field of historical romance was changing lives–not just for the authors, but for the readers too. I’m not certain I have a favorite, but if I had to pick one it would be Honor’s Splendor. When Duncan says, “I’ve come for you, Madelyne” the second time I nearly leapt out of my chair. Now, that’s dialog that says everything! A true comfort read.
I remember my first Julie Garwood book because it was my first romance read! I found a copy of Saving Grace in a bag of books my grandmother brought when she came to help out my mom. I was precociously young, but immediately hooked. Many, many years later, it’s still a comfort re-read for me. Sending love to all her family and friends.
What I first appreciated about Julie Garwood’s books (along with the feel-good stories), was that there were no clinch covers. I remember reading THE SECRET in front of my parents, sitting in the living room of their friends while we visited. The adults were talking around me and my teenage self was reading a secret romance in public. Win!
That was my second Julie Garwood. THE PRIZE was my first. I loved medieval romance! I made it my mission of collect all of Julie Garwood’s backlist. And frontlist, as it was released. I sort of drifted away as I got older and I wanted to smack some of her contemporary heroes and heroines. But I never let go of those laboriously collected backlist medievals. (And regencies. And westerns.) They’re my wallow-in-warm-fuzzies comfort reads.
I appreciated reading about Good People Doing The Right Thing. Not always in the smartest way, but with good intentions and a pure heart.
Thank you for the warm fuzzies, Ms. Julie!
Oh wow. So sad to hear this news. I got pulled into romance by sneaking my mom’s Garwoods, McNaughts, and Devereaux (there were plenty of Coulters on the shelf too, but I never gravitated to them for some reason). I could open The Secret today and still tear up at the same scenes that gutted me as a young teen. And it delivered an awesome love story, but also an incredible story of friendship, of two little girls who became friends before they realized they should have been enemies. Sorry I’m trying not to spoil anything, but the scene near the end where Frances Catherine finally tells everyone why Judith subconsciously pushes her chair away from the table…Francis Catherine later telling Judith her child will need someone to tell secrets to…just a poignant full circle of friendship there.
Julie Garwood was a genuine groundbreaker and there is a huge hole in the romance world today.
I will always remember how Julie Garwood saved me from the fire alarm in college. One of my greatest fears about going to college was being caught in the shower when the fire alarm goes off. Students would pull the alarm all the time because well college. One night senior year I was in my room reading , ” The Bride”. I thought I’ll go take a shower now and then read until I go to bed. I stood up to get a shower and then thought no I’ll read one more chapter. The minute I said one more chapter the fire alarm went off. This time it was an actual small fire in the utility room of the dorm. Had I taken a shower then instead of reading one more chapter I would have been in the shower when the fire alarm went off. As silly as it is that memory always makes me smile. I like to say it was the time Julie Garwood saved me from a fire alarm fiasco.
I can’t remember when I discovered Julie, but I remember the first one I read was the Bride from my library’s bookmobile. Like so many others, I loved all of her historicals, and was so excited when Hallmark was going to adapt For the Roses (and of course, was horribly disappointed! Probably my first lesson on book to movie adaptations!) I didn’t read as many of her contemporaries, but have held on to all those historicals, and I think I might have to do a reread now. Jo Beverly and Julie were probably the first romance authors I read, and it makes me so sad to know they are both gone now…
This is such sad news. I devoured all of Julie Garwood’s romances during my teen years, and three of them in particular (The Secret, Saving Grace, and Guardian Angel) have stayed comfort reads for me over the past 30 years.
Her books brought so much joy and comfort.
Thank you for your lovely tribute, Sarah. Much sympathy to Julie’s family and friends.
I spent a goodly portion of the 80s on the living room sofa kitty corner from my mother on the love seat reading romances. It’s a treasured memory in which Julie Garwood played a big part.
I related to a friend after Tina Turner passed that we had sadly reached the age where we would be say goodbye to more and more of the people who gave us happiness by sharing their talent. This one is a very real heart punch. My condolences to use all.
I was so sad to hear this, and not a little frustrated that there hasn’t been a NYT profile or coverage from big news sources yet. I love everything you’ve written here, and I take comfort in the fact that Romancelandia is coming together in our own spaces for this.
Wonderful tribute.
Such sad news: one of Romancelandia’s true Queens has left us. Deepest condolences to her family and all who loved her and her work.
The Bride, Castles, all of them
In poignant timing, I just finished my first ever Julie Garwood yesterday – GUARDIAN ANGEL. I’m pretty sure I picked it up because of various recommendations here. I’m still exploring the origins of Romancelandia and she is obviously bedrock. A sad loss.
So gutted to hear the news (especially on the heels of losing Cormac McCarthy)
I always loved Julie’s work – everything I ever read by her was great – but I have reread The Gift so much that I’ve had to buy multiple copies over the years. She was so gifted and so kind. What a legend, what a loss.
This is such a sad day. So many of her books were a huge part of my teen years – I have Gentle Warrior sitting on my side board.
THE GIFT was one my very first romances, and it holds a very special place in my heart. My copy is tattered and soft from so many readings. Despite much of it feeling a bit outdated even when I picked it up years ago, I defy ANYONE to give me a better final line of a book. I CACKLED. Still do.
We’ll miss you Julie. Thank you.
This is such sad news. I remember when ‘The Bride’ came out. It was the first historical romance book I read that made me actually laugh. Looking back humor wasn’t thick on the ground in historical romance. They were angsty and dramatic but not humorous.
I also think for me personally she introduced me to the Highlander romance. Up until then, I think Johanna Lindsey had written a few where the hero was a Highlander. But I think it was Garwood who, for me, made the Highlander romance an identifiable subgenre.
Definitely one of my absolute favorite old skool writers whose books I still read for comfort.
May she rest in peace.
HONOR’S SPLENDOR was one of the first romances that I read. I still remember how Garwood draws you into the story in the first chapter, where the hero doesn’t say a word but somehow manages to convey such deep power and charisma that we know immediately he is the hero even before he is identified.
My condolences to her family and friends. May they take comfort in knowing that there are thousands of readers who thought of her with warmth and were grateful for the hours of reading pleasure she brought them.
I remember when the For the Roses books came out as mini-books at the grocery store—one book per week. (So did The Green Mile.) I loved them and they made a boring store trip so much fun.
Rest in peace.
This is a lovely tribute. Thank you.
The lights just turned off in a portion of my mental library, along with my heart. Julie Garwood is on my Mount Rushmore of authors (or the law firm, if you will). I read the hard cover of Ransom so many times I purchased a paperback for easier reading and to reduce the wear on the original copy. I remember where I read it, the condition of my body (pregnant) and some of the clothes I wore (pre-maternity).
I loved the humor in her writing and the strength in her characters. I’m forever grateful for finding her as one of my first romance authors. I compare every other author to her and the others on my Mount Rushmore. Very few hold up to the legends.
She was my favorite author of all time, she didn’t just write a story, you lived it with her. ❤️ My sincere Condolences for this loss.
Julie Garwood was the BEST! Like you, I grew up on Garwood, Deveraux, etc. More than simply an icon, she illuminated the human condition, empathized with her heroes and heroines, and set the bar high for excellent writing. I loved all her books and will miss her.
So sad to hear about Ms Garwood’s passing she was my all time favourite author!! I have read all her books and some 2-3 times
RIP Julieyou’re going to be missed..
A million years ago (1993? 94?) I was working at a Barnes & Noble just after college graduation and a coworker said their mom knew Julie Garwood. I completely fangirled about her. As you said, she was foundational to my love of romance as a genre. A few weeks later a signed copy of Castles was sent to me by Ms. Garwood. Such a kind and unexpected gesture by a busy woman to a broke kid she’d never met. I remain a huge fan and am so sad she’s gone.
My very first time to read a Julie Garwood book was a paperback book brought by my daughter. From that point on I looked for and read all of her books. I always bought the new releases as they were released. I have read and enjoyed all of her books and have started at the beginning of her books and read them all many times and enjoyed them every time.
[…] Starting with some sad news though: romance queen Julia Garwood died. Smart Bitches Trashy Books has a lovely remembrance. […]
Ms. Garwood was an amazing author but also a wonderful, thoughtful, generous lady. My daughters knew how much I have loved reading all her stories. They wrote to her expressing how much I enjoyed Ransom. Ms. Garwood sent my daughters lovely emails along with a signed hard bound copy of Ransom for Mothers Day. It was the perfect gift. I wrote to thank her and she wrote the nicest compliments back to me about my daughters. I have saved every email and put them in the book. She will be missed.
Honor’s Splendor, The Bride, and Murder List are my favorites. I just saw a Washington Post article stating Julie Garwood died and I feel gutted. She was one of the first romance authors I ever read. I was at a work conference last week and I missed this completely. I just yelled out “Oh No!” and my sister asked “what?” and I told her the news.
Thank you for the wonderful tribute to Julie Garwood.