She was chosen to be a launch author because she, along with Violet Winspear and Anne Mather were the most popular and prolific of Harlequin's authors.Īnne Hampson turned to writing after graduating from college as part of a trial program for 'older women'. Harlequin Presents books were more sensual than the previous line, Harlequin Romance, under which she had been published. But, when Manchester University decided to trial older women she applied and she graduated.In 1973, she became a launch author for the new Harlequin Presents line of category romance novels. She left work to marry.Later, when her marriage broke up, she had to return to work and to live in a tiny caravan. She had to begin to make blouses Marks & Spencer's blouses.

She has published her autobiography.Īnne Hampson dreamed to teach and to write when was six, but due to the depression after World War II, she had to leave study at 14. Although she retired in 1998, in 2005 she published two romance and a crime novels. She also has published as Jane Wilby historical romance novels.

November 28 in England) was a popular British writer of over 125 romance novels in Mills & Boon from 1969 to 1998. She is retired, but in 2005 she wrote two romance and crime novels, both of which were published by Severn House.Anne Hampson (b. She has written her autobiography, entitled Fate Was My Friend.

She has had 3 awards, one at the World Trade Centre where she received a standing ovation from her American fans, who had come from many states just to meet her. Many of 'Presents' have been reprinted many times (some as many as 16) and are now fetching up to $55, being classed as 'rare' books. She has the distinction of being number one in Harlequin Presents, Masquerade and Silhouette. He told her to write one - it was done in a month, entitled Eleanor and the Marquis under the pseudonym Jane Wilby. She suggested to Alan that they have a historical series. Alan Boon (the Boon of Mills & Boon) and she came up with the title for 'Harlequin Presents' over lunch at the Ritz. From the first book, came over 125 more written for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette. From the caravan she went to a small stately home, drove a Mercedes and sailed on the QE2. In 1969, her first novel, Eternal Summer, was accepted five days from posting and she soon had a contract for 12 more. But she never forgot her two ambitions, and when Manchester University decided to trial older women she applied, and three years later had achieved one ambition, so set her thoughts on number two. She went back to the rag trade and lived in a tiny caravan. Later, when her marriage broke up, she was homeless with £40 in her purse. Poverty after WWI deprived her of an education and at 14 she was making Marks & Spencer's blouses at one shilling (5p) each. At age six she had two ambitions: to teach and to write. Anne Hampson was born on November 28 in England.

Eleanor and the Marquis by Anne Hampson