LaVyrle Spencer

LaVyrle Spencer (July 17, 1943-) grew up in Browerville, Minnesota. She and her high school sweetheart, Dan, married in 1962. She was working as a teacher’s aide in Osseo when she was inspired by fellow Minnesotan Kathleen Woodiwiss to write a novel, The Fulfillment, which was published in 1979. After writing twenty-four novels, Spencer retired from writing in 1997 and lives in Stillwater where she spends time with her grandchildren and composes music.

Twelve of Spencer’s romance novels have become New York Times bestsellers, and she has also won 5 RITA Awards and a Minnesota Book Award. She was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1988. Rather than writing in the so-called bodice-ripper style, Spencer focused her stories on families rather than just the relationship between the hero and heroine. Several of her books have been turned into movies. Some of her works include Separate Beds, Hummingbird, Morning Glory, and Then Came Heaven.