Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer (1902 to 1974) was an English novelist and short-story writer who worked in both the Regency romance and detective fiction genres. Her career began in 1921, when she turned a story made up for her ailing younger brother into her first novel, The Black Moth. After These Old Shades sold well despite appearing during the General Strike, she decided that publicity was not needed for good sales and for the rest of her life refused interviews. Her Regency novels were inspired by Jane Austen, and she kept reference works and detailed notes on Regency life to keep them accurate; the lead credits her with essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its Regency subgenre. From 1932 she released one romance and one thriller each year, her husband often supplying plot outlines for the thrillers. Her last book, My Lord John, was published after her death.