Rosemary Rogers
Encyclopedia
Rosemary Rogers, née Rosemary Janz (b. 1932 in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka
) is a best-selling author
of historical
romance novels. Her first book, Sweet Savage Love, was published in 1974. She was the second romance author, after Kathleen Woodiwiss
, to have her novels published in trade paperback format. Both writers owe their initial success to legendary editor Nancy Coffey who was then with Avon Books. Rogers is considered to be one of the founders of the modern historical romance, and many of today's writers cite her writing as one of their biggest influences. She lives in Connecticut
.
. Her parents, Cyril and Barbara Jansz, were Dutch-Portuguese settlers who owned several private schools and were extremely wealthy. Rogers lived among many servants and was sheltered from much of the outside world. She began writing at age eight, and throughout her teens penned many romantic epics in the style of her favorite writers, Sir Walter Scott, Alexandre Dumas, père
, and Rafael Sabatini
.
After spending three years at the University of Ceylon
, Rogers became a reporter, and soon married Summa Navaratnam, a Ceylonese rugby
player and track
star (who played for Ceylon
against the 1950
British Lions
and who was known as "the fastest man in Asia"). Disappointed with her husband, Rogers moved with her two daughters to London
in 1960.
In Europe, she met Leroy Rogers, an African-American from the United States
, they married in his home town, St. Louis, Missouri
and she moved her family to California
, where they had two sons. The second marriage ended after eight years, and Rogers was left to support herself and four children on her salary as a typist for the Solano County
Parks Department. The following year, in 1969, her parents came to live with Rogers.
Her third marriage, in September 1984, was to poet Christopher Kadison, 20 years her junior. It was not a marriage made in heaven and they soon began to live apart.
The four children of Rogers have grown and they have become independent. Rogers is single and makes her home in Connecticut
, where she continues to write.
, which quickly purchased the novel. That novel, Sweet Savage Love, skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists, and became one of the most popular historical romances of all time. Her second novel, Dark Fires, sold two million copies in its first three months of release.
Her first three novels sold a combined 10 million copies. The fourth, Wicked Loving Lies sold 3 million copies in its first month of publication.
Rosemary Rogers was one of the first romance authors to extend her scenes into the bedroom. Her novels are often full of violence, and the heroine is usually rape
d one or more times, sometimes by the hero, and sometimes by other men. Her heroines travel to exotic locations and meet important people. In many cases, one or both of the protagonists follows a "riches-to-rags-to-riches" storyline.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
) is a best-selling author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of historical
Historical romance
Historical romance is a subgenre of two literary genres, the romance novel and the historical novel.-Definition:Historical romance is set before World War II...
romance novels. Her first book, Sweet Savage Love, was published in 1974. She was the second romance author, after Kathleen Woodiwiss
Kathleen Woodiwiss
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, née Kathleen Erin Hogg , was a U.S. writer, pioneered the historical romance genre with the 1972 publication of her novel The Flame and the Flower.-Early years:...
, to have her novels published in trade paperback format. Both writers owe their initial success to legendary editor Nancy Coffey who was then with Avon Books. Rogers is considered to be one of the founders of the modern historical romance, and many of today's writers cite her writing as one of their biggest influences. She lives in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Personal life
Rosemary Jansz was born in 1932 in Ceylon, now Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Her parents, Cyril and Barbara Jansz, were Dutch-Portuguese settlers who owned several private schools and were extremely wealthy. Rogers lived among many servants and was sheltered from much of the outside world. She began writing at age eight, and throughout her teens penned many romantic epics in the style of her favorite writers, Sir Walter Scott, Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, , born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was a French writer, best known for his historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world...
, and Rafael Sabatini
Rafael Sabatini
Rafael Sabatini was an Italian/British writer of novels of romance and adventure.-Life:Rafael Sabatini was born in Iesi, Italy, to an English mother and Italian father...
.
After spending three years at the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
, Rogers became a reporter, and soon married Summa Navaratnam, a Ceylonese rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
star (who played for Ceylon
Sri Lanka national rugby union team
The Sri Lanka national rugby union team represents Sri Lanka in international rugby union competitions. Sri Lanka have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup. They have the longest tradition of organised club rugby in Asia, dating back to 1879, which was just 8 years after the founding of...
against the 1950
1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1950 was the first post-war tour made by the Lions; there had not been one since 1938....
British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
and who was known as "the fastest man in Asia"). Disappointed with her husband, Rogers moved with her two daughters to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1960.
In Europe, she met Leroy Rogers, an African-American from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, they married in his home town, St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and she moved her family to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where they had two sons. The second marriage ended after eight years, and Rogers was left to support herself and four children on her salary as a typist for the Solano County
Solano County, California
Solano County is a county located in Bay-Delta region of the U.S. state of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento and is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. The county's population was reported by the U.S. Census to be 413,344 in 2010...
Parks Department. The following year, in 1969, her parents came to live with Rogers.
Her third marriage, in September 1984, was to poet Christopher Kadison, 20 years her junior. It was not a marriage made in heaven and they soon began to live apart.
The four children of Rogers have grown and they have become independent. Rogers is single and makes her home in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, where she continues to write.
Writing career
Every night for a year, Rogers worked to perfect a manuscript that she had written as a child, rewriting it 24 times. When her teenage daughter found the manuscript in a drawer, she encouraged her mother to send the manuscript to AvonAvon (publishers)
Avon Publications was an American paperback book and comic book publisher. As of 2010, it is an imprint of HarperCollins, publishing primarily romance novels.-History:...
, which quickly purchased the novel. That novel, Sweet Savage Love, skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists, and became one of the most popular historical romances of all time. Her second novel, Dark Fires, sold two million copies in its first three months of release.
Her first three novels sold a combined 10 million copies. The fourth, Wicked Loving Lies sold 3 million copies in its first month of publication.
Rosemary Rogers was one of the first romance authors to extend her scenes into the bedroom. Her novels are often full of violence, and the heroine is usually rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d one or more times, sometimes by the hero, and sometimes by other men. Her heroines travel to exotic locations and meet important people. In many cases, one or both of the protagonists follows a "riches-to-rags-to-riches" storyline.
Legend of Morgan-Challenger Series
- Sweet Savage Love (1974)
- Dark Fires (1975)
- Wicked Loving Lies (1976)
- Lost Love, Last Love (1980)
- Bound by Desire (1988)
- Savage Desire (2000)
Single Novels
- Wildest Heart (1974)
- The Crowd Pleasers (1978)
- The Insiders (1979)
- Love Play (1981)
- Surrender to Love (1982)
- The Wanton (1985)
- Tea Planter's Bride (1995)
- Dangerous Man (1996)
- Midnight Lady (1997)
- All I Desire (1998)
- In Your Arms (1999)
- A Reckless Encounter (2001)
- Jewel of My Heart (2004)
- Sapphire (2005)
- A Daring Passion (2007)
- Scandalous Deception (2008)
- Bound By Love (2009)
- Scoundrel's Honor (2010)
- Bride for a Night(2011)