شعله و گل (خانوادهٔ بیرمنگام)

Review “A phenemenon.” (New York Times ) “A legend.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution ) “The queen of historical romance.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution ) About the Author (1939 - 2007) Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, creator of the modern historical romance, died July 6, 2007 in Minnesota. She had just turned 68. Her attorney, William Messerlie, said that she died after a long illness. Born on June 3, 1939 in Alexandria, Louisiana, Mrs. Woodiwiss was the youngest of eight siblings. She long relished creating original narratives, and by age six was telling herself stories at night to help herself fall asleep. At age 16, she met U.S. Air Force Second Lieutenant Ross Woodiwiss at a dance, and they married the following year. She wrote her first book in longhand while living at a military outpost in Japan. Woodiwiss is credited with the invention of the modern historical romance novel: in 1972, she released The Flame and the Flower , an instant New York Times bestseller, creating literary precedent. The Flame and the Flower revolutionized mainstream publishing, featuring an epic historical romance with a strong heroine and impassioned sex scenes. ''Kathleeen E. Woodiwiss is the founding mother of the historical romance genre,'' says Carrie Feron, vice president/editorial director of William Morrow and Avon Books, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers. Feron, who has been Woodiwiss's editor for 13 years, continues, ''Avon Books is proud to have been Kathleen's sole publishing partner for her paperbacks and hardcover novels for more than three decades.'' Avon Books, a leader in the historical romance genre to this day, remains Mrs. Woodiwiss's original and only paperback publisher; William Morrow, Avon's sister company, publishes Mrs. Woodiwiss's hardcovers. The Flame and the Flower was rejected by agents and hardcover publishers, who deemed it as ''too long'' at 600 pages. Rather than follow the advice of the rejection letters and rewrite the novel, Mrs. Woodiwiss instead submitted it to paperback publishers. The first publisher on her list, Avon, quickly purchased the novel and arranged an initial 500,000 print run. The novel sold over 2.3 million copies in its first four years of publication. The success of this novel prompted a new style of writing romance, concentrating primarily on historical fiction tracking the monogamous relationship between a helpless heroines and the hero who rescued her, even if he had been the one to place her in danger. The romance novels which followed in her example featured longer plots, more controversial situations and characters, and more intimate and steamy sex scenes. ''Her words engendered an incredible passion among readers,'' notes Feron. Bestselling author Julia Quinn agrees, saying, ''Woodiwiss made women want to read. She gave them an alternative to Westerns and hard-boiled police procedurals. When I was growing up, I saw my mother and grandmother reading and enjoying romances, and when I was old enough to read them myself, I felt as if I had been admitted into a special sisterhood of reading women.'' New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips, a leading voice in the women's fiction arena, says, ''We all owe our careers to her. She opened the world of romance to us as readers. She created a career for us to go into.'' The pioneering author has written 13 novels over the course of 35 years, all New York Times bestsellers. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's final literary work, the upcoming Everlasing , will be published by William Morrow in October 2007. '' Everlasting is Kathleen's final gift to her fans,'' notes Feron. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, who was predeceased by her husband and son Dorren, is survived by sons Sean and Heath, and numerous grandchildren. "Set in 18th-century England and the American colonies, this is the story of Heather Simmons, an innocent English beauty, and her tempestuous romance with wealthy Yankee Captain Brandon Birmingham. Heather Simmons, the orphaned beauty of a wealthy London family, is now no more than a housemaid to her cruel guardian, Aunt Fanny. When her aunt's brother, William court, offers to escort her to London to teach at a finishing school, she welcomes the opportunity to escape her life of poverty. But, upon their arrival, her lusty custodian attacks her and, in a violent struggle, Heather accidentally kills him and flees in horror into the night and unknowingly down to the squalid London dockside. There, she is captured by two sailors, who drag her to their captain's ship for his pleasure. Thinking she is under arrest for her crime, she is too stunned to ward off the tall, muscular captain. Overcome by her innocent beauty, Captain Brandon Birmingham realizes, too late, that she is not what she seems. Her honor will be restored, but at a painful price. Her magistrate uncle, learning she is with child, coerces Brandon into marrying her, and the proud captain agrees, under one condition: Heather will enjoy all the formalities of marriage, but none of its pleasures. Even though he yearns to touch her, Brandon keeps his promise during their long voyage to his Carolina plantation, and after their arrival. Yet he hasn't touched another woman since that fateful night, and when their son is born, a special bond develops among all three. But Louisa Wells, Brandon's spurned fiancee, burns with jealousy with his young bride and threatens to destroy any hope for their happiness. And when she discovers the dreadful crime Heather has been hiding from Brandon ever since the night they met, Brandon and Heather's unspoken love for each other will be tested to the limit."--BOOK JACKET The extraordinary Birmingham Family Saga commences in The Flame and the Flower -- it continues in The Elusive Flame and concludes in A Season Beyond a Kiss. (All Kathleen E. Woodiwiss titles are available from PerfectBound.) The FlowerDoomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence--until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee. . . and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger.The FlameA lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman. . .and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.

The Flower

Doomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence—until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee. . . and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger.

The Flame

A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman. . .and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.

New York Times bestselling author Kathleen E. Woodiwiss debut romance...The FlowerDoomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence—until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee. . . and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger. The FlameA lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman. . .and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love. Doomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee... and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger. A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman... and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love. "Captain Brandon Birmingham is a lusty adventurer married to the sea. Though courting scorn and serious peril through his actions, he abducts the beautiful, sapphire-eyed fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. For it is destiny that brings Heather to Brandon's side, and no power on Earth will force him to relinquish his exquisite prize. Only she can unlock the tenderness in his heart; and Brandon vows she will he his to love, to cherish, to desire."--Page 4 of cover Fearing for her innocence, doomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons commits a shocking and desperate act. Now she must flee--and seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger. Though courting scorn and serious peril through his actions, Captain Brandon Birmingham abducts the beautiful sapphire-eyed fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. Only she can unlock the tenderness in his heart and he vows she will be his Somewhere in the world, time no doubt whistled by on taut and widespread wings, but here in the English country it plodded slowly, painfully, as if it trod the rutted road that stretched across the moors on blistered feet.