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Vale Valerie Parv

Canberra-based romance novelist Valerie Parv has died, aged 69.

The author of 93 books in 29 languages, spanning romance, nonfiction and writing guides, Parv’s writing career began when her first novel was published by Mills & Boon in 1982. Parv was a founding member of Romance Writers of Australia (RWA) and the namesake of the RWA Valerie Parv Award for an unpublished manuscript, which offered the winner, chosen by Parv, a year of mentorship with the author.

A longtime member of ACT Writers, Parv regularly delivered romance and general fiction writing workshops and in 2014 was awarded the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Medal, with the ASA noting that her book The Art of Romance Writing (A&U) ‘was voted the most useful book on writing’ in a poll of RWA members. In 2015 Parv made a member of the Order of Australia in 2015 for ‘significant service to the arts as a prolific author, and as a role model and mentor to young emerging writers’.

Mills & Boon publisher Kita Kemp writes:

‘We’re very sad to have heard of the recent passing of Valerie Parv.

‘Valerie was one of Australia’s most successful and respected authors, selling over 34 million copies of her books in 29 languages, and was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2015 for her significant contributions to the arts as a prolific author and as a role model and mentor.

‘Her first Mills & Boon book, aptly titled Love’s Greatest Gamble, was published in 1982 and she went on to write 56 Mills & Boon romances, as well as many other novels and nonfiction titles. This amazing achievement is a reflection of her talent and how much she was loved by readers all over the world.

‘Those who knew her speak of someone who was so very kind and lovely, with a smile and ever-present laugh. She was always incredibly generous, a champion of romance and a true inspiration to both her fans and other writers.

‘There are simply not enough words to do her justice, except maybe … legend. Valerie will be sadly missed by each and every one of us.’

 

Category: Obituaries