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Sunday, November 1, 2015

In Memoriam of Fran Lee, Romance Author, Mother, and Friend to so many


For those who did not have the pleasure of knowing Fran here is just a little bit about her...

Award winning romance author Fran Lee was born in California, migrated East at age one (not alone, of course) to a small town in Nevada, where she spent her formative years. At age fourteen she was uprooted again, and ended up in Utah.

So when the outside world gets shaken up twice, what's a girl to do but create a world (or many worlds) of her own?

By the time she was in high school, Fran had read over 900 books. Her love for reading had blossomed quite naturally into a love for writing. By age fourteen, Fran had begun to accumulate a large cache of mushy, angst-filled romances that shall, thankfully, never see the light of day. But the seed was sown.

Writing serious romances began in the mid 1980's. Unfortunately, her first submission was met with blushes and gasps from those publishers specializing in romance. "Too hot for our line". "Not a genre we publish." What they were trying to say was, "Try Penthouse or Playboy."

Setting aside her writing for a couple of years (twenty-three to be exact) Fran finished raising three great kids, continued to work a public service job she loved, and only after she decided to retire, did she try her hand at getting published again. Pulling out that same dusty novel that had gotten rejected for being too explicit so long ago, she spruced it up for the 21st century, then shot it off to a publisher well known for erotic novels.

For another reject.

Not willing to take 'no' for an answer again, she asked "why?" The answer came back instantly..."not hot enough."

A quick rewrite got a contract, and in less than seven years, Fran has become a multipublished author, with over two dozen books published and more being released shortly...



Fran... you dear soul, you will be missed. And although you may be gone, you will never be forgotten. xoxo

With love,
The ladies from Romance Books 4 Us


34 comments:

Tina Donahue said...

So shocking and sad. Fran, rest in peace, lovely lady.

Melissa Keir said...

She was a blessing in this group. We enjoyed her wit and her friendship. Like Tina said, shocking to hear she was gone. She will certainly be missed!

jean hart stewart said...

It's sad to lose such a wonderful person....We are all better for knowing her.

Marianne Stephens said...

Wonderful tribute to Fran. So sorry to lose our friend! She'll be missed by all of us.

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear this, my thoughts and prayers go out to Fran's family and friends.

Sheri Fredricks said...

Thank you for posting this wonderful tribute and introducing Fran to those who never met her.

Paris said...

She was funny and kind and will be remembered fondly by all who knew her. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones. Rest in peace, darlin'.

Unknown said...

I knew Fran on line. She was such a generous friend. She made trailers for many of us. Seeing this post was a shock for me. I lost contact with her four years ago and didn't know she moved to a better world. She'll be remembered as a lovely and fun lady.

Victoria said...

Though I didn't know her, I *knew* of her through writing friends. She will be missed. My thoughts to her friends and family.

D'Ann said...

I'm sorry I didn't know her better...RIP.

darkwriter said...

I didn't know her, but prayers go out to her friends and family.

Katalina Leon said...

Fran, was one of my first friends in the publishing business. We started with the same publisher and she was quick to reach out to me with friendship and advice whenever I asked.
She wrote some damn good books and she will be missed <3

Berengaria Brown said...

I have many happy memories of the time we met. RIP Fran.
Berengaria

J Jaytanie said...

Fran sounded like a wonderful person. Wish I would have had the opportunity to know her. Sending all my thoughts and prayers to her family and friends. Sleep softly, Fran...

Harlie Williams said...

I loved her books. Especially Jillian's Job. :)

She will be missed.

Marika/Harlie

Molly Daniels said...

Fran was a wonderful person to connect with online, and was always there with an encouraging word. I was blessed to have a couple of signed books from her, and Jillian's Job was also my favorite:)

Molly Daniels/Kenzie Michaels

Stephanie Burkhart said...

My thoughts and prayers for Fran and her family. She was a true inspiration.
Steph Burkhart
Romance Under the Moonlight

Janice Seagraves said...

Thoughts and prayers to her family.

Janice~

Shoshanna Evers said...

I was and am so sad to hear of Fran's passing. She was an amazing author and had such a warm smile. She took me under her wing when I was brand-new and at Romanticon 2010 for my debut book. Rest in peace Fran Lee! xoxo

Caffey said...

Fran's books and personality brought so much joy into my life. I'm missing her already! Cathie

Rose Anderson said...

I'm so sad to hear of Fran's passing. My condolences to her loved ones.

Anonymous said...

I was so saddened to hear of Fran's passing. Like Harlie/Marika, Jillian's Job is one of my favorites and has a place on my keeper shelf; I just re-read it a week or so ago!

Condolences to her family and friends.

--flchen1

Unknown said...

RIP, Fran Lee.
Cara Adams

rubyswan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rubyswan said...

May God continue 2bless &strengthen the family of Ms.Lee.Ms Lee will live immorally n her work. I count myself bless 2b gifted with the work of Ms Lee!!!

Helen W said...

I was blessed to meet Fran at several RomantiCons and to edit that very first book (and several others). Fran was a wonderfully talented author and genuine caring person who will be sadly missed. My condolences to her family and friends.
Helen Woodall

rubyswan said...

I luvvvv that Ms Lee wrote bks. about Native American Indians..!! It's sad that sooo little write about them/NAI present day Now..!

Sam Cheever said...

Such a shock. A talented author and a wonderful person. Fran will be missed.

Marie Rose Dufour said...

It really saddened me to hear about her passing. Woman on Fire is one of my favorite books by her. I go back and reread it all the time.

Anonymous said...

IT'S SO SAD TO NOT HAVE READ ANY OF HER BOOKS, ONCE I GET SOME CASH I'LL CHECK HER OUT.

LINDARB49@HOTMAIL.COM

PRM said...

How wonderful that Fran's books are in the world! Her talents will forever be with us.

Polly

Sandy said...

What a shocker! I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of Fran to this group, to readers, and her family.

Cara Marsi said...

I only knew Fran through RB4U but she seemed like a lovely person. I won a pearl necklace from her earlier this year when I commented on her blog. So sad that she passed.

Unknown said...

I didn't know Fran except for her contributions within this forum, but with so many tributes of love and friendship, she was well loved and respected. My condolences to her family and friends.

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