I had another topic in mind to write about today, but in all honesty nothing seemed as important as the fact that, earlier this week, we lost Miranda Neville.
I’m fairly sure we never met in person, though I’m equally as sure our paths crossed several times at conferences, and we followed each other on Twitter. For writers like me, who spend most of the day all alone in a room, Twitter’s the equivalent of the old office water cooler, where we meet and mingle with our colleagues, share a grumble or a laugh, and get to know each other.
I know there are people who think social media doesn’t allow you to truly know anyone, but if you had followed Miranda this past year, here’s what you’d have learned:
She was eloquent, and funny, and intelligent, and liked to talk about our genre and analyze it. “I’ve long argued,” she said, “that [historical fiction] reflects the writer’s time: Walter Scott, Thackeray, Heyer. Compare “bodice ripper” era with current historical romance. Totally different world view.”
She was a frequent and enthusiastic participant in the discussions on the #RomBkLove (Romance Book Love) hashtag, where in one discussion on “rulers in romance”, she confided, “I like to see realistic depiction of peers exercising political power instead of being playboys or spies. Also, more powerful commoners.”
She loved series but liked it best when former characters were “there for a plot reason, not just to say ‘we are blissful with lots of babies’.”
That said, she loved epilogues. “That extra glimpse of HEA,” she called them, adding, “Of course they need to be good :-)”
She spent a good deal of time “obsessing about cake.”
She thought Terms of Endearment was such a bad movie just thinking about it made her angry. But movies she’d watched over ten times and still loved were: Top Hat, Bringing Up Baby, You’ve Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally, the animated version of Beauty and the Beast, Tootsie, and The Commitments.
She loved the arts, and the theatre, and music. She was hopeful writers like Lucy Parker could make readers and publishers realize the potential of theatrical settings. When told an operatic heroine wouldn’t sell, she wrote the book anyway (Secrets of a Soprano) and self-published it.
She was passionate about politics.
She used to work in rare books at Sotheby’s.
In May, on what she decided was a very good day, she was let off with a warning by a policeman who’d stopped her for speeding, and was also elected to her town library board “in an uncontested election. Way to win.” At her first meeting as a trustee, the board discussed carpeting, an ice cream fundraiser, free speech, and whether to repaint the book drop.
She loved William Morris designs, and this was her bedroom wallpaper.
Although she was English, her favourite holiday was American Independence Day. “It always seems a happy, relaxed, optimistic day,” she said.
She leaned towards optimism herself. Explaining the British social custom of dividing couples when seating them at events (because “it’s assumed they talk to each other all the time”) she concluded cheerfully, “I’ve met interesting new people when seated with strangers.”
She preferred reading eBooks, although an episode where she was reading a print copy of Alyssa Cole’s An Extraordinary Union and several strangers noticed it and asked her about it, made her muse, “But I think I miss books that I used to find in book stores, books I don’t know I want until I see them.”
She loved Paris.
She was generous, recommending other writers’ books much more often than she mentioned her own.
She was ill. It was there in the background, but fleetingly. Mentions of doctors, insurance, and health care. A comment about intubation. Regrets about having to miss seeing people at meet-ups and conferences.
But she had a brand new book, Lady Scandal, set to be published this coming May 29. The heroine “might just have written a novel,” she revealed, “But [the] hero isn’t a duke.” It would feature Diana, from The Dangerous Viscount, and Minerva, from Confessions From An Arranged Marriage. She was really looking forward to sharing it with her readers. “It’s good,” she said, “to get something out again.”
The pre-order link for that book has been taken down. I really hope it goes up again. Selfishly, I want to have that last piece of my beautiful Twitter friend. I want to hear her voice speaking to me in the pages.
I am not ready to let her go.
These past two days I’ve found myself turning again and again to her timeline, revisiting old conversations. Obsessing about cake.
Her second-last post is too sad for me now to read. But I do love her last words there. In answer to somebody pondering why they’d signed up to review a month’s worth of historicals instead of the paranormals they preferred, Miranda replied: “It’s ok. Historicals rock.”
She was a big part of what makes them rock, in my opinion.
I’m grateful for the stories she has given us. I’ll miss her very much.
If you’d like to share a memory of Miranda or her novels, please feel free to join this celebration of her life and writing in the comments.
And for anyone wishing to honour her life in a more permanent way, her family have asked that, instead of flowers, contributions be made to Planned Parenthood or The National Endowment for the Arts (On the NEA website, they say: "Congress sets the level of appropriations for the NEA. The NEA has the statutory authority to receive donations; however, donated funds, if accepted by the agency, cannot be used to supplement grantmaking. We encourage you to look to arts organizations in your local community or other groups that support the arts. If you have a donation question, please contact Tony Tighe at tighet@arts.gov).
I was so shocked to hear of her death (and I was also certain there’d be something about her on Word Wenches). Sometimes you feel a connection to an author, and it’s upsetting when this happens.
I saw people a month or so ago asking: why was my pre-order cancelled?
Now we know why… 🙁
I loved that her books were *historical* romance. I loved the real sense of history she had.
I was so shocked to hear of her death (and I was also certain there’d be something about her on Word Wenches). Sometimes you feel a connection to an author, and it’s upsetting when this happens.
I saw people a month or so ago asking: why was my pre-order cancelled?
Now we know why… 🙁
I loved that her books were *historical* romance. I loved the real sense of history she had.
I was so shocked to hear of her death (and I was also certain there’d be something about her on Word Wenches). Sometimes you feel a connection to an author, and it’s upsetting when this happens.
I saw people a month or so ago asking: why was my pre-order cancelled?
Now we know why… 🙁
I loved that her books were *historical* romance. I loved the real sense of history she had.
I was so shocked to hear of her death (and I was also certain there’d be something about her on Word Wenches). Sometimes you feel a connection to an author, and it’s upsetting when this happens.
I saw people a month or so ago asking: why was my pre-order cancelled?
Now we know why… 🙁
I loved that her books were *historical* romance. I loved the real sense of history she had.
I was so shocked to hear of her death (and I was also certain there’d be something about her on Word Wenches). Sometimes you feel a connection to an author, and it’s upsetting when this happens.
I saw people a month or so ago asking: why was my pre-order cancelled?
Now we know why… 🙁
I loved that her books were *historical* romance. I loved the real sense of history she had.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Susanna, thank you so much for the beautiful tribute to an extraordinary person.
I first met Miranda when I volunteered to interview her here at the Word Wenches on her very first book. And fell in love with her as we exchanged questions and answers and I discovered what a funny, smart, incredibly wonderful writer she was. We become fast friends, meeting up at conferences, and in her occasional visits to NYC.
We would meet for tea in the grand lounge of the Yale Club (which does look like a baronial drawing room.) She would make pithy comments about feeling “at home” in the Englishness of it, and then we would laugh and talk for hours.
Another memorable day she came down to New Haven and we explored the libraries and galleries at Yale, sharing our love for books and art.
She was fun to be with. Not just for the laughter and wonderful sense of humor, but for her thoughtful views on so many things. She was wise, and compassionate and generous . . . and I’m now in tears trying to write this.
I will miss you, Miranda. More than words can say.
Susanna, thank you so much for the beautiful tribute to an extraordinary person.
I first met Miranda when I volunteered to interview her here at the Word Wenches on her very first book. And fell in love with her as we exchanged questions and answers and I discovered what a funny, smart, incredibly wonderful writer she was. We become fast friends, meeting up at conferences, and in her occasional visits to NYC.
We would meet for tea in the grand lounge of the Yale Club (which does look like a baronial drawing room.) She would make pithy comments about feeling “at home” in the Englishness of it, and then we would laugh and talk for hours.
Another memorable day she came down to New Haven and we explored the libraries and galleries at Yale, sharing our love for books and art.
She was fun to be with. Not just for the laughter and wonderful sense of humor, but for her thoughtful views on so many things. She was wise, and compassionate and generous . . . and I’m now in tears trying to write this.
I will miss you, Miranda. More than words can say.
Susanna, thank you so much for the beautiful tribute to an extraordinary person.
I first met Miranda when I volunteered to interview her here at the Word Wenches on her very first book. And fell in love with her as we exchanged questions and answers and I discovered what a funny, smart, incredibly wonderful writer she was. We become fast friends, meeting up at conferences, and in her occasional visits to NYC.
We would meet for tea in the grand lounge of the Yale Club (which does look like a baronial drawing room.) She would make pithy comments about feeling “at home” in the Englishness of it, and then we would laugh and talk for hours.
Another memorable day she came down to New Haven and we explored the libraries and galleries at Yale, sharing our love for books and art.
She was fun to be with. Not just for the laughter and wonderful sense of humor, but for her thoughtful views on so many things. She was wise, and compassionate and generous . . . and I’m now in tears trying to write this.
I will miss you, Miranda. More than words can say.
Susanna, thank you so much for the beautiful tribute to an extraordinary person.
I first met Miranda when I volunteered to interview her here at the Word Wenches on her very first book. And fell in love with her as we exchanged questions and answers and I discovered what a funny, smart, incredibly wonderful writer she was. We become fast friends, meeting up at conferences, and in her occasional visits to NYC.
We would meet for tea in the grand lounge of the Yale Club (which does look like a baronial drawing room.) She would make pithy comments about feeling “at home” in the Englishness of it, and then we would laugh and talk for hours.
Another memorable day she came down to New Haven and we explored the libraries and galleries at Yale, sharing our love for books and art.
She was fun to be with. Not just for the laughter and wonderful sense of humor, but for her thoughtful views on so many things. She was wise, and compassionate and generous . . . and I’m now in tears trying to write this.
I will miss you, Miranda. More than words can say.
Susanna, thank you so much for the beautiful tribute to an extraordinary person.
I first met Miranda when I volunteered to interview her here at the Word Wenches on her very first book. And fell in love with her as we exchanged questions and answers and I discovered what a funny, smart, incredibly wonderful writer she was. We become fast friends, meeting up at conferences, and in her occasional visits to NYC.
We would meet for tea in the grand lounge of the Yale Club (which does look like a baronial drawing room.) She would make pithy comments about feeling “at home” in the Englishness of it, and then we would laugh and talk for hours.
Another memorable day she came down to New Haven and we explored the libraries and galleries at Yale, sharing our love for books and art.
She was fun to be with. Not just for the laughter and wonderful sense of humor, but for her thoughtful views on so many things. She was wise, and compassionate and generous . . . and I’m now in tears trying to write this.
I will miss you, Miranda. More than words can say.
Thank you, Susanna. Now I have tears in my eyes. I met Miranda after an RWA conference where we were sitting in the same Southwest boarding lounge. She came up and asked “Are you Mary Jo Putney?” (I’m easy to overlook. *G*) And she introduced herself and we had the most lovely discussion until the flights left. We kept in touch a bit at conferences, and I hate to think there will be no more long, lovely conversations with a really superior woman and writer.
Thank you, Susanna. Now I have tears in my eyes. I met Miranda after an RWA conference where we were sitting in the same Southwest boarding lounge. She came up and asked “Are you Mary Jo Putney?” (I’m easy to overlook. *G*) And she introduced herself and we had the most lovely discussion until the flights left. We kept in touch a bit at conferences, and I hate to think there will be no more long, lovely conversations with a really superior woman and writer.
Thank you, Susanna. Now I have tears in my eyes. I met Miranda after an RWA conference where we were sitting in the same Southwest boarding lounge. She came up and asked “Are you Mary Jo Putney?” (I’m easy to overlook. *G*) And she introduced herself and we had the most lovely discussion until the flights left. We kept in touch a bit at conferences, and I hate to think there will be no more long, lovely conversations with a really superior woman and writer.
Thank you, Susanna. Now I have tears in my eyes. I met Miranda after an RWA conference where we were sitting in the same Southwest boarding lounge. She came up and asked “Are you Mary Jo Putney?” (I’m easy to overlook. *G*) And she introduced herself and we had the most lovely discussion until the flights left. We kept in touch a bit at conferences, and I hate to think there will be no more long, lovely conversations with a really superior woman and writer.
Thank you, Susanna. Now I have tears in my eyes. I met Miranda after an RWA conference where we were sitting in the same Southwest boarding lounge. She came up and asked “Are you Mary Jo Putney?” (I’m easy to overlook. *G*) And she introduced herself and we had the most lovely discussion until the flights left. We kept in touch a bit at conferences, and I hate to think there will be no more long, lovely conversations with a really superior woman and writer.
Thank you for this tribute, Susannah. Miranda was an author I had not noticed. Sadly, I will be meeting her after her death. But I will be looking for her books.
Thank you for this tribute, Susannah. Miranda was an author I had not noticed. Sadly, I will be meeting her after her death. But I will be looking for her books.
Thank you for this tribute, Susannah. Miranda was an author I had not noticed. Sadly, I will be meeting her after her death. But I will be looking for her books.
Thank you for this tribute, Susannah. Miranda was an author I had not noticed. Sadly, I will be meeting her after her death. But I will be looking for her books.
Thank you for this tribute, Susannah. Miranda was an author I had not noticed. Sadly, I will be meeting her after her death. But I will be looking for her books.
Very sad news. Thank you for sharing a lovely tribute.
Very sad news. Thank you for sharing a lovely tribute.
Very sad news. Thank you for sharing a lovely tribute.
Very sad news. Thank you for sharing a lovely tribute.
Very sad news. Thank you for sharing a lovely tribute.
I never met Miranda, but I enjoyed online and email conversations with her. I found her a delight–intelligent, funny, honest, and generous. I found the same qualities in her work. I loved her books, particularly The Dangerous Viscount, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton,and Secrets of a Soprano. That last one was on my top ten list last year. She referred to it as the book of her heart. I plan to begin my rereading of her books with that one.
I never met Miranda, but I enjoyed online and email conversations with her. I found her a delight–intelligent, funny, honest, and generous. I found the same qualities in her work. I loved her books, particularly The Dangerous Viscount, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton,and Secrets of a Soprano. That last one was on my top ten list last year. She referred to it as the book of her heart. I plan to begin my rereading of her books with that one.
I never met Miranda, but I enjoyed online and email conversations with her. I found her a delight–intelligent, funny, honest, and generous. I found the same qualities in her work. I loved her books, particularly The Dangerous Viscount, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton,and Secrets of a Soprano. That last one was on my top ten list last year. She referred to it as the book of her heart. I plan to begin my rereading of her books with that one.
I never met Miranda, but I enjoyed online and email conversations with her. I found her a delight–intelligent, funny, honest, and generous. I found the same qualities in her work. I loved her books, particularly The Dangerous Viscount, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton,and Secrets of a Soprano. That last one was on my top ten list last year. She referred to it as the book of her heart. I plan to begin my rereading of her books with that one.
I never met Miranda, but I enjoyed online and email conversations with her. I found her a delight–intelligent, funny, honest, and generous. I found the same qualities in her work. I loved her books, particularly The Dangerous Viscount, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton,and Secrets of a Soprano. That last one was on my top ten list last year. She referred to it as the book of her heart. I plan to begin my rereading of her books with that one.
So sad. I have only read a few novellas by Ms. Neville, but I feel like I know her after your lovely tribute. Thank you.
So sad. I have only read a few novellas by Ms. Neville, but I feel like I know her after your lovely tribute. Thank you.
So sad. I have only read a few novellas by Ms. Neville, but I feel like I know her after your lovely tribute. Thank you.
So sad. I have only read a few novellas by Ms. Neville, but I feel like I know her after your lovely tribute. Thank you.
So sad. I have only read a few novellas by Ms. Neville, but I feel like I know her after your lovely tribute. Thank you.
What a wonderful tribute to an amazing lady. I met Miranda Neville at my very first RWA Conference and Beau Monde Mini Conference. She helped me to feel like a real author and to believe in my work. She was funny, pithy, sassy, and as clever as they come. All of which shines brightly in her work. We talked about the UK, British history, writing, opera, food, and anything and everything Regency. I had the great good fortune to read the manuscript of Secrets of a Soprano from the very beginning.She wanted to be certain she got the opera history and especially the personality, training, and regimens of an opera singer right. Trust me, she needed very little help from me. I loved the story from the very first – such was the magic of her writing.
I will miss her keen intellect, her insight into the world, especially the world occupied by those of us who write historical romance. I will miss her humor and her vast knowledge, which she was ever ready to share with the rest of us. I will miss her courage and dignity in the face of her illness, though I am not surprised by it in the least. I will miss the books she will never get the chance to write. It is monumentally unfair. Miranda left this world a far better place than she found it. May the same be said of all of us.
What a wonderful tribute to an amazing lady. I met Miranda Neville at my very first RWA Conference and Beau Monde Mini Conference. She helped me to feel like a real author and to believe in my work. She was funny, pithy, sassy, and as clever as they come. All of which shines brightly in her work. We talked about the UK, British history, writing, opera, food, and anything and everything Regency. I had the great good fortune to read the manuscript of Secrets of a Soprano from the very beginning.She wanted to be certain she got the opera history and especially the personality, training, and regimens of an opera singer right. Trust me, she needed very little help from me. I loved the story from the very first – such was the magic of her writing.
I will miss her keen intellect, her insight into the world, especially the world occupied by those of us who write historical romance. I will miss her humor and her vast knowledge, which she was ever ready to share with the rest of us. I will miss her courage and dignity in the face of her illness, though I am not surprised by it in the least. I will miss the books she will never get the chance to write. It is monumentally unfair. Miranda left this world a far better place than she found it. May the same be said of all of us.
What a wonderful tribute to an amazing lady. I met Miranda Neville at my very first RWA Conference and Beau Monde Mini Conference. She helped me to feel like a real author and to believe in my work. She was funny, pithy, sassy, and as clever as they come. All of which shines brightly in her work. We talked about the UK, British history, writing, opera, food, and anything and everything Regency. I had the great good fortune to read the manuscript of Secrets of a Soprano from the very beginning.She wanted to be certain she got the opera history and especially the personality, training, and regimens of an opera singer right. Trust me, she needed very little help from me. I loved the story from the very first – such was the magic of her writing.
I will miss her keen intellect, her insight into the world, especially the world occupied by those of us who write historical romance. I will miss her humor and her vast knowledge, which she was ever ready to share with the rest of us. I will miss her courage and dignity in the face of her illness, though I am not surprised by it in the least. I will miss the books she will never get the chance to write. It is monumentally unfair. Miranda left this world a far better place than she found it. May the same be said of all of us.
What a wonderful tribute to an amazing lady. I met Miranda Neville at my very first RWA Conference and Beau Monde Mini Conference. She helped me to feel like a real author and to believe in my work. She was funny, pithy, sassy, and as clever as they come. All of which shines brightly in her work. We talked about the UK, British history, writing, opera, food, and anything and everything Regency. I had the great good fortune to read the manuscript of Secrets of a Soprano from the very beginning.She wanted to be certain she got the opera history and especially the personality, training, and regimens of an opera singer right. Trust me, she needed very little help from me. I loved the story from the very first – such was the magic of her writing.
I will miss her keen intellect, her insight into the world, especially the world occupied by those of us who write historical romance. I will miss her humor and her vast knowledge, which she was ever ready to share with the rest of us. I will miss her courage and dignity in the face of her illness, though I am not surprised by it in the least. I will miss the books she will never get the chance to write. It is monumentally unfair. Miranda left this world a far better place than she found it. May the same be said of all of us.
What a wonderful tribute to an amazing lady. I met Miranda Neville at my very first RWA Conference and Beau Monde Mini Conference. She helped me to feel like a real author and to believe in my work. She was funny, pithy, sassy, and as clever as they come. All of which shines brightly in her work. We talked about the UK, British history, writing, opera, food, and anything and everything Regency. I had the great good fortune to read the manuscript of Secrets of a Soprano from the very beginning.She wanted to be certain she got the opera history and especially the personality, training, and regimens of an opera singer right. Trust me, she needed very little help from me. I loved the story from the very first – such was the magic of her writing.
I will miss her keen intellect, her insight into the world, especially the world occupied by those of us who write historical romance. I will miss her humor and her vast knowledge, which she was ever ready to share with the rest of us. I will miss her courage and dignity in the face of her illness, though I am not surprised by it in the least. I will miss the books she will never get the chance to write. It is monumentally unfair. Miranda left this world a far better place than she found it. May the same be said of all of us.
Thanks Susanna for a lovely tribute. Like you I never met Miranda in person but loved her books and followed her on social media. She was the type of person you felt you knew. Her loving personality shown through in her comments. She will be greatly missed. May the memories shared with her be a comfort to her many friends.
Thanks Susanna for a lovely tribute. Like you I never met Miranda in person but loved her books and followed her on social media. She was the type of person you felt you knew. Her loving personality shown through in her comments. She will be greatly missed. May the memories shared with her be a comfort to her many friends.
Thanks Susanna for a lovely tribute. Like you I never met Miranda in person but loved her books and followed her on social media. She was the type of person you felt you knew. Her loving personality shown through in her comments. She will be greatly missed. May the memories shared with her be a comfort to her many friends.
Thanks Susanna for a lovely tribute. Like you I never met Miranda in person but loved her books and followed her on social media. She was the type of person you felt you knew. Her loving personality shown through in her comments. She will be greatly missed. May the memories shared with her be a comfort to her many friends.
Thanks Susanna for a lovely tribute. Like you I never met Miranda in person but loved her books and followed her on social media. She was the type of person you felt you knew. Her loving personality shown through in her comments. She will be greatly missed. May the memories shared with her be a comfort to her many friends.
I also knew her from Twitter. I didn’t know her well, but she made me feel like I did. She was open-hearted and always replied and seemed happy to have conversations with fans and other people she’d never met. We had a conversation about how we’re both Mirandas, but not by birth. I found out the news about her passing on my birthday yesterday. I cried all day. I still can’t believe she’s gone. She was so vibrant and left a big hole.
I also knew her from Twitter. I didn’t know her well, but she made me feel like I did. She was open-hearted and always replied and seemed happy to have conversations with fans and other people she’d never met. We had a conversation about how we’re both Mirandas, but not by birth. I found out the news about her passing on my birthday yesterday. I cried all day. I still can’t believe she’s gone. She was so vibrant and left a big hole.
I also knew her from Twitter. I didn’t know her well, but she made me feel like I did. She was open-hearted and always replied and seemed happy to have conversations with fans and other people she’d never met. We had a conversation about how we’re both Mirandas, but not by birth. I found out the news about her passing on my birthday yesterday. I cried all day. I still can’t believe she’s gone. She was so vibrant and left a big hole.
I also knew her from Twitter. I didn’t know her well, but she made me feel like I did. She was open-hearted and always replied and seemed happy to have conversations with fans and other people she’d never met. We had a conversation about how we’re both Mirandas, but not by birth. I found out the news about her passing on my birthday yesterday. I cried all day. I still can’t believe she’s gone. She was so vibrant and left a big hole.
I also knew her from Twitter. I didn’t know her well, but she made me feel like I did. She was open-hearted and always replied and seemed happy to have conversations with fans and other people she’d never met. We had a conversation about how we’re both Mirandas, but not by birth. I found out the news about her passing on my birthday yesterday. I cried all day. I still can’t believe she’s gone. She was so vibrant and left a big hole.
I never met Miranda Neville but loved her wit and exchanging posts with her. What Andrea Penrose has to say about her friendship with Miranda reminded me so much about my treasured friendship with my late friend Hester Davenport. Such individuals cannot be replaced. Bless her memory and I am so sorry for your loss, Andrea 🙁
I never met Miranda Neville but loved her wit and exchanging posts with her. What Andrea Penrose has to say about her friendship with Miranda reminded me so much about my treasured friendship with my late friend Hester Davenport. Such individuals cannot be replaced. Bless her memory and I am so sorry for your loss, Andrea 🙁
I never met Miranda Neville but loved her wit and exchanging posts with her. What Andrea Penrose has to say about her friendship with Miranda reminded me so much about my treasured friendship with my late friend Hester Davenport. Such individuals cannot be replaced. Bless her memory and I am so sorry for your loss, Andrea 🙁
I never met Miranda Neville but loved her wit and exchanging posts with her. What Andrea Penrose has to say about her friendship with Miranda reminded me so much about my treasured friendship with my late friend Hester Davenport. Such individuals cannot be replaced. Bless her memory and I am so sorry for your loss, Andrea 🙁
I never met Miranda Neville but loved her wit and exchanging posts with her. What Andrea Penrose has to say about her friendship with Miranda reminded me so much about my treasured friendship with my late friend Hester Davenport. Such individuals cannot be replaced. Bless her memory and I am so sorry for your loss, Andrea 🙁
Thank you to Susanna and all the commenters for telling us about your memories of Miranda. I only knew her through her books. There are probably just 3 or 4 of them left I haven’t read, and it’s sad to think there will be no more after that.
Her love of history really shone through in her books, and in “The Wild Marquis” especially, her knowledge of rare and antique book collecting. And she was so witty! I wish I had known her.
Yes, Louisa, it is monumentally unfair.
Thank you to Susanna and all the commenters for telling us about your memories of Miranda. I only knew her through her books. There are probably just 3 or 4 of them left I haven’t read, and it’s sad to think there will be no more after that.
Her love of history really shone through in her books, and in “The Wild Marquis” especially, her knowledge of rare and antique book collecting. And she was so witty! I wish I had known her.
Yes, Louisa, it is monumentally unfair.
Thank you to Susanna and all the commenters for telling us about your memories of Miranda. I only knew her through her books. There are probably just 3 or 4 of them left I haven’t read, and it’s sad to think there will be no more after that.
Her love of history really shone through in her books, and in “The Wild Marquis” especially, her knowledge of rare and antique book collecting. And she was so witty! I wish I had known her.
Yes, Louisa, it is monumentally unfair.
Thank you to Susanna and all the commenters for telling us about your memories of Miranda. I only knew her through her books. There are probably just 3 or 4 of them left I haven’t read, and it’s sad to think there will be no more after that.
Her love of history really shone through in her books, and in “The Wild Marquis” especially, her knowledge of rare and antique book collecting. And she was so witty! I wish I had known her.
Yes, Louisa, it is monumentally unfair.
Thank you to Susanna and all the commenters for telling us about your memories of Miranda. I only knew her through her books. There are probably just 3 or 4 of them left I haven’t read, and it’s sad to think there will be no more after that.
Her love of history really shone through in her books, and in “The Wild Marquis” especially, her knowledge of rare and antique book collecting. And she was so witty! I wish I had known her.
Yes, Louisa, it is monumentally unfair.
Thank you for a lovely tribute.
Thank you for a lovely tribute.
Thank you for a lovely tribute.
Thank you for a lovely tribute.
Thank you for a lovely tribute.
Thanks for sharing. I have been numb since I heard the news; it was too sudden and too soon to lose her.
Thanks for sharing. I have been numb since I heard the news; it was too sudden and too soon to lose her.
Thanks for sharing. I have been numb since I heard the news; it was too sudden and too soon to lose her.
Thanks for sharing. I have been numb since I heard the news; it was too sudden and too soon to lose her.
Thanks for sharing. I have been numb since I heard the news; it was too sudden and too soon to lose her.
I was saddened to hear of her passing. I’ve read all her books to date, I think, and I hate that there may be no more. She wrote well and carefully, and told interesting stories. I only “knew” her from twitter, and I wish I could have met her in person. I picture her in a library on the Other Side, talking with people who would have known people like her characters, and working up some new stories. If there are no libraries on the Other Side, what’s the point of going there?
I was saddened to hear of her passing. I’ve read all her books to date, I think, and I hate that there may be no more. She wrote well and carefully, and told interesting stories. I only “knew” her from twitter, and I wish I could have met her in person. I picture her in a library on the Other Side, talking with people who would have known people like her characters, and working up some new stories. If there are no libraries on the Other Side, what’s the point of going there?
I was saddened to hear of her passing. I’ve read all her books to date, I think, and I hate that there may be no more. She wrote well and carefully, and told interesting stories. I only “knew” her from twitter, and I wish I could have met her in person. I picture her in a library on the Other Side, talking with people who would have known people like her characters, and working up some new stories. If there are no libraries on the Other Side, what’s the point of going there?
I was saddened to hear of her passing. I’ve read all her books to date, I think, and I hate that there may be no more. She wrote well and carefully, and told interesting stories. I only “knew” her from twitter, and I wish I could have met her in person. I picture her in a library on the Other Side, talking with people who would have known people like her characters, and working up some new stories. If there are no libraries on the Other Side, what’s the point of going there?
I was saddened to hear of her passing. I’ve read all her books to date, I think, and I hate that there may be no more. She wrote well and carefully, and told interesting stories. I only “knew” her from twitter, and I wish I could have met her in person. I picture her in a library on the Other Side, talking with people who would have known people like her characters, and working up some new stories. If there are no libraries on the Other Side, what’s the point of going there?
What a wonderful tribute to your friend. I am sure she will be smiling down on you reading this, and to know the profound effect she has had on those around her.
What a wonderful tribute to your friend. I am sure she will be smiling down on you reading this, and to know the profound effect she has had on those around her.
What a wonderful tribute to your friend. I am sure she will be smiling down on you reading this, and to know the profound effect she has had on those around her.
What a wonderful tribute to your friend. I am sure she will be smiling down on you reading this, and to know the profound effect she has had on those around her.
What a wonderful tribute to your friend. I am sure she will be smiling down on you reading this, and to know the profound effect she has had on those around her.
I was saddened to hear she passed away. I enjoyed many of her books. Two of my favorites are “Lady Windemere’s Lover” and “The Ruin of a Rogue.” Wonderful characters and plot. She will be missed.
Condolences to her daughter and all of the Word Wenches who knew her.
I was saddened to hear she passed away. I enjoyed many of her books. Two of my favorites are “Lady Windemere’s Lover” and “The Ruin of a Rogue.” Wonderful characters and plot. She will be missed.
Condolences to her daughter and all of the Word Wenches who knew her.
I was saddened to hear she passed away. I enjoyed many of her books. Two of my favorites are “Lady Windemere’s Lover” and “The Ruin of a Rogue.” Wonderful characters and plot. She will be missed.
Condolences to her daughter and all of the Word Wenches who knew her.
I was saddened to hear she passed away. I enjoyed many of her books. Two of my favorites are “Lady Windemere’s Lover” and “The Ruin of a Rogue.” Wonderful characters and plot. She will be missed.
Condolences to her daughter and all of the Word Wenches who knew her.
I was saddened to hear she passed away. I enjoyed many of her books. Two of my favorites are “Lady Windemere’s Lover” and “The Ruin of a Rogue.” Wonderful characters and plot. She will be missed.
Condolences to her daughter and all of the Word Wenches who knew her.
Thank you for these wonderful memories. I had not met Miranda in person either, but “knew” her via social media, especially Twitter, as well. I enjoyed her comments so much. She was a talented writer and I will miss her books. I didn’t realize she was so ill and was shocked to hear she as gone. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with her family, friends and fans.
Thank you for these wonderful memories. I had not met Miranda in person either, but “knew” her via social media, especially Twitter, as well. I enjoyed her comments so much. She was a talented writer and I will miss her books. I didn’t realize she was so ill and was shocked to hear she as gone. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with her family, friends and fans.
Thank you for these wonderful memories. I had not met Miranda in person either, but “knew” her via social media, especially Twitter, as well. I enjoyed her comments so much. She was a talented writer and I will miss her books. I didn’t realize she was so ill and was shocked to hear she as gone. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with her family, friends and fans.
Thank you for these wonderful memories. I had not met Miranda in person either, but “knew” her via social media, especially Twitter, as well. I enjoyed her comments so much. She was a talented writer and I will miss her books. I didn’t realize she was so ill and was shocked to hear she as gone. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with her family, friends and fans.
Thank you for these wonderful memories. I had not met Miranda in person either, but “knew” her via social media, especially Twitter, as well. I enjoyed her comments so much. She was a talented writer and I will miss her books. I didn’t realize she was so ill and was shocked to hear she as gone. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with her family, friends and fans.
This is a lovely tribute. I was acquainted with her on Twitter, where she was always witty and entertaining, much like her writing. I knew the cancer battle had been strenuous, but it never occurred to me that the cancer would win. We’ve lost a wonderful writer and a smart, funny, generous woman.
This is a lovely tribute. I was acquainted with her on Twitter, where she was always witty and entertaining, much like her writing. I knew the cancer battle had been strenuous, but it never occurred to me that the cancer would win. We’ve lost a wonderful writer and a smart, funny, generous woman.
This is a lovely tribute. I was acquainted with her on Twitter, where she was always witty and entertaining, much like her writing. I knew the cancer battle had been strenuous, but it never occurred to me that the cancer would win. We’ve lost a wonderful writer and a smart, funny, generous woman.
This is a lovely tribute. I was acquainted with her on Twitter, where she was always witty and entertaining, much like her writing. I knew the cancer battle had been strenuous, but it never occurred to me that the cancer would win. We’ve lost a wonderful writer and a smart, funny, generous woman.
This is a lovely tribute. I was acquainted with her on Twitter, where she was always witty and entertaining, much like her writing. I knew the cancer battle had been strenuous, but it never occurred to me that the cancer would win. We’ve lost a wonderful writer and a smart, funny, generous woman.
Miranda Neville’s death left me feeling sad and heartbroken. I had a number of email conversations with her as a reader. She was always lovely. Clever and funny like her books, and I always hoped to meet her one day. I loved the way she introduced art into her books and the snippets of art history she passed on. I also most definitely loved her heroes; she created many of my book boyfriends! If she had such an impact on me, a virtual stranger, I can’t begin to imagine how devastated her family is. I hope they gain some comfort from the knowledge that she touched many, many lives for the better.
Miranda Neville’s death left me feeling sad and heartbroken. I had a number of email conversations with her as a reader. She was always lovely. Clever and funny like her books, and I always hoped to meet her one day. I loved the way she introduced art into her books and the snippets of art history she passed on. I also most definitely loved her heroes; she created many of my book boyfriends! If she had such an impact on me, a virtual stranger, I can’t begin to imagine how devastated her family is. I hope they gain some comfort from the knowledge that she touched many, many lives for the better.
Miranda Neville’s death left me feeling sad and heartbroken. I had a number of email conversations with her as a reader. She was always lovely. Clever and funny like her books, and I always hoped to meet her one day. I loved the way she introduced art into her books and the snippets of art history she passed on. I also most definitely loved her heroes; she created many of my book boyfriends! If she had such an impact on me, a virtual stranger, I can’t begin to imagine how devastated her family is. I hope they gain some comfort from the knowledge that she touched many, many lives for the better.
Miranda Neville’s death left me feeling sad and heartbroken. I had a number of email conversations with her as a reader. She was always lovely. Clever and funny like her books, and I always hoped to meet her one day. I loved the way she introduced art into her books and the snippets of art history she passed on. I also most definitely loved her heroes; she created many of my book boyfriends! If she had such an impact on me, a virtual stranger, I can’t begin to imagine how devastated her family is. I hope they gain some comfort from the knowledge that she touched many, many lives for the better.
Miranda Neville’s death left me feeling sad and heartbroken. I had a number of email conversations with her as a reader. She was always lovely. Clever and funny like her books, and I always hoped to meet her one day. I loved the way she introduced art into her books and the snippets of art history she passed on. I also most definitely loved her heroes; she created many of my book boyfriends! If she had such an impact on me, a virtual stranger, I can’t begin to imagine how devastated her family is. I hope they gain some comfort from the knowledge that she touched many, many lives for the better.
What a beautiful gift you have given, Susanna. I was not familiar with Ms Neville’s writing. Now, not only will I look for her books, but I also feel as if I have missed a great deal by never meeting her or learning to get to know her on social media.
I am so sorry that so many of you have lost such a special person from your life. It must have been quite a blessing to have had her as a part of your life.
Thank you for this tribute.
What a beautiful gift you have given, Susanna. I was not familiar with Ms Neville’s writing. Now, not only will I look for her books, but I also feel as if I have missed a great deal by never meeting her or learning to get to know her on social media.
I am so sorry that so many of you have lost such a special person from your life. It must have been quite a blessing to have had her as a part of your life.
Thank you for this tribute.
What a beautiful gift you have given, Susanna. I was not familiar with Ms Neville’s writing. Now, not only will I look for her books, but I also feel as if I have missed a great deal by never meeting her or learning to get to know her on social media.
I am so sorry that so many of you have lost such a special person from your life. It must have been quite a blessing to have had her as a part of your life.
Thank you for this tribute.
What a beautiful gift you have given, Susanna. I was not familiar with Ms Neville’s writing. Now, not only will I look for her books, but I also feel as if I have missed a great deal by never meeting her or learning to get to know her on social media.
I am so sorry that so many of you have lost such a special person from your life. It must have been quite a blessing to have had her as a part of your life.
Thank you for this tribute.
What a beautiful gift you have given, Susanna. I was not familiar with Ms Neville’s writing. Now, not only will I look for her books, but I also feel as if I have missed a great deal by never meeting her or learning to get to know her on social media.
I am so sorry that so many of you have lost such a special person from your life. It must have been quite a blessing to have had her as a part of your life.
Thank you for this tribute.
I met Miranda years ago at an RWA conference, maybe at the same Beau Monde mini conference when Louisa met her. Loved her instantly and was shocked to hear of her death. We lost a great talent and a great person.
I met Miranda years ago at an RWA conference, maybe at the same Beau Monde mini conference when Louisa met her. Loved her instantly and was shocked to hear of her death. We lost a great talent and a great person.
I met Miranda years ago at an RWA conference, maybe at the same Beau Monde mini conference when Louisa met her. Loved her instantly and was shocked to hear of her death. We lost a great talent and a great person.
I met Miranda years ago at an RWA conference, maybe at the same Beau Monde mini conference when Louisa met her. Loved her instantly and was shocked to hear of her death. We lost a great talent and a great person.
I met Miranda years ago at an RWA conference, maybe at the same Beau Monde mini conference when Louisa met her. Loved her instantly and was shocked to hear of her death. We lost a great talent and a great person.
I’m so sorry for you all at the loss of your friend. Will remember her in my prayers.
I’m so sorry for you all at the loss of your friend. Will remember her in my prayers.
I’m so sorry for you all at the loss of your friend. Will remember her in my prayers.
I’m so sorry for you all at the loss of your friend. Will remember her in my prayers.
I’m so sorry for you all at the loss of your friend. Will remember her in my prayers.
I loved her books…how sad there will be no more of them! Hopefully she is in no more pain.
I loved her books…how sad there will be no more of them! Hopefully she is in no more pain.
I loved her books…how sad there will be no more of them! Hopefully she is in no more pain.
I loved her books…how sad there will be no more of them! Hopefully she is in no more pain.
I loved her books…how sad there will be no more of them! Hopefully she is in no more pain.
Thank you for writing this tribute to an author I wish I had read earlier. Now I have ordered some of her books written in the last 4 or 5 years. I am excited to start her works. I noted that she is survived by a daughter. I hope the books we are purchasing will help the daughter out. There is also a book expected in 2018 and I have to wonder if it will still happen……Again, thanks Susanna K for letting us know this sad news. We American readers frequently lose track of the best voices in historical fiction out of Great Britain, so this site (WW) should be proud of keeping us informed. I truly appreciate it.
Thank you for writing this tribute to an author I wish I had read earlier. Now I have ordered some of her books written in the last 4 or 5 years. I am excited to start her works. I noted that she is survived by a daughter. I hope the books we are purchasing will help the daughter out. There is also a book expected in 2018 and I have to wonder if it will still happen……Again, thanks Susanna K for letting us know this sad news. We American readers frequently lose track of the best voices in historical fiction out of Great Britain, so this site (WW) should be proud of keeping us informed. I truly appreciate it.
Thank you for writing this tribute to an author I wish I had read earlier. Now I have ordered some of her books written in the last 4 or 5 years. I am excited to start her works. I noted that she is survived by a daughter. I hope the books we are purchasing will help the daughter out. There is also a book expected in 2018 and I have to wonder if it will still happen……Again, thanks Susanna K for letting us know this sad news. We American readers frequently lose track of the best voices in historical fiction out of Great Britain, so this site (WW) should be proud of keeping us informed. I truly appreciate it.
Thank you for writing this tribute to an author I wish I had read earlier. Now I have ordered some of her books written in the last 4 or 5 years. I am excited to start her works. I noted that she is survived by a daughter. I hope the books we are purchasing will help the daughter out. There is also a book expected in 2018 and I have to wonder if it will still happen……Again, thanks Susanna K for letting us know this sad news. We American readers frequently lose track of the best voices in historical fiction out of Great Britain, so this site (WW) should be proud of keeping us informed. I truly appreciate it.
Thank you for writing this tribute to an author I wish I had read earlier. Now I have ordered some of her books written in the last 4 or 5 years. I am excited to start her works. I noted that she is survived by a daughter. I hope the books we are purchasing will help the daughter out. There is also a book expected in 2018 and I have to wonder if it will still happen……Again, thanks Susanna K for letting us know this sad news. We American readers frequently lose track of the best voices in historical fiction out of Great Britain, so this site (WW) should be proud of keeping us informed. I truly appreciate it.
To follow up on my post, I just pre-ordered her upcoming Lady Scandal on Amazon.UK over here in the US. Don’t know if it will work, but I just had to try. Amazon.US was not allowing it. Just an FYI
To follow up on my post, I just pre-ordered her upcoming Lady Scandal on Amazon.UK over here in the US. Don’t know if it will work, but I just had to try. Amazon.US was not allowing it. Just an FYI
To follow up on my post, I just pre-ordered her upcoming Lady Scandal on Amazon.UK over here in the US. Don’t know if it will work, but I just had to try. Amazon.US was not allowing it. Just an FYI
To follow up on my post, I just pre-ordered her upcoming Lady Scandal on Amazon.UK over here in the US. Don’t know if it will work, but I just had to try. Amazon.US was not allowing it. Just an FYI
To follow up on my post, I just pre-ordered her upcoming Lady Scandal on Amazon.UK over here in the US. Don’t know if it will work, but I just had to try. Amazon.US was not allowing it. Just an FYI
A belated comment, for which I’m very sorry, but I wanted to add my message to those of the many people that were shocked and very saddened to hear about Miranda. I’ve been reading and enjoying her books for years; she was a wonderful writer and this is a beautiful tribute to her. My sincere condolences to her family, friends and all loved ones.
A belated comment, for which I’m very sorry, but I wanted to add my message to those of the many people that were shocked and very saddened to hear about Miranda. I’ve been reading and enjoying her books for years; she was a wonderful writer and this is a beautiful tribute to her. My sincere condolences to her family, friends and all loved ones.
A belated comment, for which I’m very sorry, but I wanted to add my message to those of the many people that were shocked and very saddened to hear about Miranda. I’ve been reading and enjoying her books for years; she was a wonderful writer and this is a beautiful tribute to her. My sincere condolences to her family, friends and all loved ones.
A belated comment, for which I’m very sorry, but I wanted to add my message to those of the many people that were shocked and very saddened to hear about Miranda. I’ve been reading and enjoying her books for years; she was a wonderful writer and this is a beautiful tribute to her. My sincere condolences to her family, friends and all loved ones.
A belated comment, for which I’m very sorry, but I wanted to add my message to those of the many people that were shocked and very saddened to hear about Miranda. I’ve been reading and enjoying her books for years; she was a wonderful writer and this is a beautiful tribute to her. My sincere condolences to her family, friends and all loved ones.