Fans of historical romance author Johanna Lindsey took to social media to mourn the novelist’s death from complications from lung cancer, which her family announced last weekend.
Lindsey, 67, died on Oct. 27, The New York Times reports, but her family just revealed her death recently, saying they were “too devastated” to do so earlier.
Lindsey (Home for the Holidays, Love Me Forever) was one of America’s most successful romance writers. The author of more than 50 novels, many in the Regency genre, she sold more than 60 million copies of her books in her 40-year career.
On Twitter, Lindsey’s fans posted remembrances of the author, some using the hashtag #MyFirstJohanna to reminisce about the first Lindsey novel they read.
RIP Johanna Lindsey I have some of your books and I will reread them in your memory this week 😢💜 pic.twitter.com/Hr1D1L6mLM
— Sireen Barakat (@sireenb) December 23, 2019
I’m heartbroken 💔 to hear about Johanna Lindsey. She’s one of the authors who inspired me to become a romance writer. I still have most of her books (tattered and read-worn) because they are worth reading over and over again.
— Tammy L. Bailey (@tammylbailey) December 23, 2019
I found romance when I was 11, right after my family had had a massive upheaval and I'd done some serious acting out. I was a lonely, sad, chubby, awkward sixth grader, and it felt like romance was a lifeline. HEA was a lifeline, and for me, Johanna Lindsey was romance.
— sarah maclean (@sarahmaclean) December 23, 2019
It's a sad day in #romancelandia. I'd always wanted to be a pirate, so #myfirstjohanna was A Pirate's Love with this bright red cover. #JohannaLindsey pic.twitter.com/eoWsWxnGg1
— Maria Vale (@MariaValeAuthor) December 23, 2019
My Lindsey shelves with Warrior Woman as my first and The Magic of You as my favorite. Very sad and sending lots of light to her family and to all who loved her. #MyFirstJohanna https://t.co/UtqDSF6ze5 pic.twitter.com/Fclxscl25Q
— Michelle Mars (@MichelleMarsHEA) December 23, 2019
#myfirstjohanna was my first ever romance novel, Captive Bride. I read it around 1981 or 82, when I was in high school. Stolen from my bff’s sister. She started my devotion to the genre.
— Julie Leto (@JulieLeto) December 23, 2019
Michael Schaub is an Austin, Texas–based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
