Yesterday, we lost Sharon Kay Penman, bestselling historical novelist and mystery author.
Here was the message on her Facebook page yesterday.
“As many of you know, Sharon has been having various health issues for some time. In the past 18 months, things escalated, and she began to experience more symptoms and extreme fatigue. It was only recently she was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer that had already reached stage 4. On Monday of this week, she was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia. She passed away quietly, in her sleep, this morning. Her family grieves, and now those who loved her well along with you, her fans, join with them. News of a memorial is pending.”
Last year, Sharon sent me this photo she loved of herself with her dog Cody. We corresponded with the intention of posting an interview on Poisoned Pen’s blog when The Land Beyond the Sea was published. Between deadlines and her health, she was never able to complete the interview, but she was so kind in her correspondence.
I first discovered Sharon Kay Penman with her book Here Be Dragons. She was the author of nine critically acclaimed historical novels: The Sunne in Splendour, Here be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, The Reckoning, When Christ and his Saints Slept, Time and Chance, Devil’s Brood, Lionheart, and A King’s Ransom. Her tenth historical novel, The Land Beyond the Sea, was published in March of 2020. She also wrote four medieval mysteries. Her first was The Queen’s Man, the queen in question being Eleanor of Aquitaine, a finalist for an Edgar Award for Best First Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America. Her other mysteries are Cruel as the Grave, Dragon’s Lair, and Prince of Darkness.
May she rest in peace.
It’s very sad, that Sharon May Pennan list her life to cancer and pneumonia. May she rest in peace. Sincere condolences to her family.
It is so sad, Clare. I’m sorry.
Sharon Kay Penman was my absolute favorite writer, period. Her well researched books and excellence in writing made her the absolute best writer of historical fiction, in my opinion. So sorry to hear of her death.
Jennifer, It hurts every time we lose an author. It hurts to lose that creativity and knowledge from the world. And, when it’s a favorite author, it’s even harder. I’m sorry.
Oh no! I read many of her books the Plantagenet series, Sunne in Splendour. Condolences to her family.
So sad, I know, Donna.
In the process of re-reading Lionheart. It’s sad that although her words will forever ring true in my mind; that that spark that put pen to paper went out like a candle in the dark.
Tony Mac
Llanishen
Wales
Tony it is sad. As I said to Jennifer, it hurts deeply whenever a wonderful author leaves, and it’s always too soon.
I love her works, and if this is true, this is a great loss. It all seems based on the quote on the Facebook page. I have not seen any notice in the book press or outlets like the NY Times that report literary deaths. Do we know for sure that this has actually happened?
Rtrube54, Like you, I have not seen anything on sites that report literary deaths. However, I did see historical fiction author C.W. Gortner’s comments about losing her, a dear friend of his. I don’t think he would have posted that if it wasn’t true.
Shelf Awareness has the note about her death today – https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3911
This is what I was looking for.