| Here are some recent entries coming in to the Phyllis A. Whitney memorial book. This remarkable lady touched so many lives in so many different ways. You can add your message to the book here. -- Philip Tyo, Founder and Webmaster of The Official PHYLLIS A. WHITNEY Web site |
|||||
| *********************************** | |||||
| I am
a librarian at the Lynchburg Public Library. Many of our patrons love
books by Mrs. Whitney, but there was one in particular who was a very
avid fan. When she was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, she told
me, "I'm not afraid. I'm going to go to heaven and wait for Phyllis
Whitney." Her wait is over. I'm sure they'll be good friends there. I have read many of Phyllis Whitney's books through the years. They
are my favorites..in fact I just recommended her books to my book club
and have been trying to find one she wrote re cause of death of infants
on an island of Ireland I believe was named Iona. So far no luck.....I
will miss her wonderful stories and send my condolences for the great
loss of a wonderful lady.
Oh, what a loss. I have been reading Phyllis A. Whitney books since I
was a child. I never get tired of reading and re-reading her stories.
I will miss her terribly. My condolences to her family and friends. Phyllis was a 'silent' mentor to me through her many books,
especially her volume on writing for young people. I learned so much from
her more than 35 years ago when I started my own career. I will always
hold her in the highest esteem and regard her as a friend even though
we never met in person. Thanks to her tutelage and encouragement through
her instruction I published over 20 books for children. Heaven will be
brighter because of her presence there! As a voracious teen reader, Phyllis Whitney was one of my favorite authors
to read. I would lose myself in the background of her stories and feel
that her characters were people I knew. Forty years later, she is still
one of my favorite authors and as a librarian, I have seen new generations
of readers learn to love her as well. She will be missed. Phyllis A. Whitney was one of my favorite authors. I was ten years old
when I began reading "adult" books and Ms. Whitney and Victoria
Holt were the first two adult authors I read. I was captivated immediately
and the first Whitney novel I read was "The Turquoise Mask."
After that I read them all and eagerly awaited each new book's release.
It was "Amethyst Dreams" that brought my waiting to an end,
and it was one of the finest of her later novels. I will miss knowing
that Ms. Whitney is around, working on her autobiography, and hoping that
maybe another romantic suspense novel would emerge as well. Ms. Whitney
was a wonderfully talented author and I'm sure she was also a fine person.
She will be sorely missed.
A life to be celebrated. I fell in love with Phyllis Whitney's books as
a young woman and her stories inspired me to write as well. I have her
fiction and writing books on my shelf. I'm proud to be a writer and in
some small way be associated with this wonderful woman. Miss Whitney's books have been great favorites of mine for as long as
I remember. I discovered her juvenile mysteries about the same time that
I discovered her adult suspense novels, and I read both groups of books
with great pleasure. Growing up on a farm in Mississippi, I did all my
world-traveling in those days through books. Miss Whitney took me to far-flung,
exotic places that I could never hope to go on my own, and after I read
one of her books I felt I had been to those locales, if only for a brief
while. I found her address in a reference book, back in 1983, and I wrote
her the first fan letter I ever wrote to an author. Within ten days, I
received a reply. What she had to say in that letter told me that she
had read my letter and thought about what I had to say, and I was touched
by the time she obviously took to respond. Later on I had the great pleasure
of meeting her in person, twice. First was in 1988 at the Edgar Awards
Banquet; Miss Whitney had been named Grandmaster for that year. I found
my way to her table before the festivities started, clutching one of my
favorite of her books ("Emerald", in case anyone is curious),
and rather shyly introduced myself and told her how much pleasure she
had given me over the years through her books. Her face lit up, and she
was obviously so delighted by talking to a reader, she charmed me completely.
I saw her again a few years later at Malice Domestic, and Dorothy Cannell
(another big fan of hers) and I stood in line waiting to get books signed,
happily discussing our favorites. Once again, when I had the chance to
speak to her, I received that same beaming smile and obvious joy she had
when talking to readers. She was over 90 by that time, and her body might
have been frail, but her mind was still razor-sharp. She delighted many
people that day during the panel she did at Malice. Sometime last year
I decided it was time to reread some of her work, and I was just as enthralled
with it as I had been when I read the books for the first time. Despite
the fact that she was (by this time) considerably older than her heroines,
she had this uncanny ability to understand what hurdles young women of
that particular decade were facing and write credibly about them. She
told me in her letter, back in 1983, that the reason she had stopped writing
historical novels was that she was far more interested in the problems
of women of the present, and I think she did it with great compassion
and understanding. "Emerald" is a prime example of this. Phyllis
A. Whitney was a wonderful storyteller, and I will always relish the time
I spent reading her books, and the times to come when I will read them
again.
Thank you to Phyllis for the wonderful books that she wrote. I think that
I have almost all of her mysteries. I loved the way that you think that
you have her style of writing down so you can solve the mystery and she
changes things. This made her books a delight to read. She was loved and
will be missed. Phyllis Whitney - I adored her and her books. They
took me through puberty and young adulthood, and now, to an old gal in
her 50's. My books are old and tattered, each one a good friend, read
and re-read and always gave me a "good read" - I don't care
how many times I read them. Somehow, one of her books was on my desk this
morning, and I don't even know how it got there. Right then, I wondered
about her, and knowing that she was up there in years, got on the web
to see how she was doing. I am so saddened to see that she passed away
two days ago. What a wonderful gift she left me and her reading public
- a gift that goes on living forever. God Bless You Phyllis - and THANK
YOU!
The world of writing has lost a bright and shining light. I first read
her books as a teenager and they never failed to capture my imagination.
I've been a Phyllis Whitney fan since I was a kid, and I'd like to express
my gratitude that she shared her incredible gift of storytelling with
the world. She inspired me to want to write romantic suspense, as well.
I have been reading her stories since I was a young girl. I am now 53.
I just finished today (2-10-2008) reading "The Ebony Swan" and
decided to look up her information on the web. I did not read that she
had passed until I did so. I so much admired her work, she was my first
favorite author. I enjoyed each and every book of hers. I thank her for
sharing her gift with me. My condolences to her family and friends.
The first "adult" book I ever read was one of hers.
God bless you, Phyllis. I will always be a fan. I was saddened to learn of Miss Whitney's death. I think the first book
I read was "Moonflower" which I still have in paperback. Others
I enjoyed were "Daughter of the Stars," "The Singing Stones,"
and "Feather on the Moon." She had a wonderful gift, and I'm
glad to have been a recipient! I grew up reading Ms. Whitney's books, and her guide to writing juvenile
fiction was directing responsible for the beginning of my career as a
published author. Ms. Whitney put a lot of herself into her work, and
those of us who read it all voraciously felt as if we knew her. She was
loved, and she will be missed. God bless her and her family..... you will
all remain in my prayers. Peace,
I discovered Phyllis Whitney's juvenile mystery novels by chance when
I was about twelve. Through "Secret of the Tiger's eye" I learned
about Apartheid in South Africa, through "Secret of the Emerald Star"
I learned what it's like to be blind. These novels in particular had a
profound affect on me. "I tried in my books to deal with the subject
of understanding the other fellow," Ms. Whitney says in the quote
on her website home page. As a published author myself now, I am in the
process of preparing a workshop presentation on using novels to encourage
children to understand and empathize with others, and in so doing I remembered
the influence Ms. Whitney's novels had on me as a child, and so went to
her website and discovered her death. I was saddened, but also reinspired
by this incredible woman.
Phyllis Whitney is one of my favorite writers. I still have every book
she ever wrote in my collection. I have missed her writing and hope she
has found peace. The world of books is a little less bright now ...
I was in the 8th grade when a librarian introduced me to "Silver
Hill." Reading became an addiction after that. Phyllis Whitney was
my favorite author and always will be. I mourn her passing and rejoice
in the legacy she left the world.
I have read Phyllis Whitney's stories for years. Haven't seen anything
new in awhile and wondered what happened. I really enjoyed reading her
books and have kept all that I have bought. I was saddened to hear of
her death. She was a great lady and author.
Phyllis inspired so many of us to read! Her gift and talent of writing
gave all of her fans countless hours of being swept away to other places
and being introduced to characters that we liked and some that we didn't
trust. What a blessing she was to the world. I grew up on a farm along the Minnesota-Iowa state line. Among my fondest
childhood memories was waiting for the bookmobile to bring another Phyllis
A. Whitney book. I read and reread them. I grew up to be a journalist
but recently tried writing a novel. One of my favorite how-to books for
writers was "Writing Mysteries: A Handbook by the Mystery Writers
of America." I must have read Mrs. Whitney's chapter on pacing and
suspense a dozen times. And it worked. My first book, Stalking Susan,
is being published by Doubleday this summer. I'm supposed to speak at
a library conference next month and last week I was preparing a speech
talking about how libraries create authors and how important Phyllis A.
Whitney was to me as a reader and writer. As I researched just how many
books she'd written, I was delighted to learn she was still alive at 104.
I was planning on sending her a copy of my speech. I'm so sorry to hear
of her death. But what a life she led. After reading the first Phyllis Whitney book I was hooked. She had a
way with word weaving that drew you into her stories and didn't let you
go. I am very saddened to hear that she's gone. May she rest in peace. I was so sorry to read that Ms. Whitney had died. Like so many others,
I began reading her books when I was in grade school - "Mystery on
the Isle of Skye" comes to mind - and really have never stopped.
Just recently I began re-reading her adult novels again - and enjoy them
just as much as I did the first time. I'm not a "fan letter writer",
but I did write to her once, just to thank her for all of her novels.
I, too, received a gracious reply. She was a wonderful lady. Thank You Ms Phyllis A. Whitney. Rest in peace, your stories will live
on, also here in Finland.
She came to Topsail Island to gather information her book "Amethyst
Dreams." I met with her expecting a visit just long enough to give
some insight of the people and history of our area. Instead it turned
into a whole day of delightful conversation about my favorite topic--our
community and what made it tick. I fell in love with Ms. Whitney and continued
a correspondence for several years. I will miss her and feel my life was
enriched by her presence. I found myself in a secluded inn in Georgia the first weekend in February.
The large,old-fashioned guest room in which I was staying was filled with
books of all sorts lining the floor-to-ceiling shelves on one wall. I
began exploring the titles and ran across a dusty, yellow-paged, 1975
edition of "Spindrift" by Phyllis Whitney--an author's name
which struck a pleasant familiar cord in me. Hadn't I read piles of books
by her as a teenager? I began reading and fell under her spell once again.
To learn of her death just one week after my rediscovery of her in a rather
mysterious old inn in Georgia is a coincidence I think she would like!
I started reading Phyllis Whitney's book in junior high school along with
Dorothy Eden, Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart. These amazing women led
me to other writers and eventually to writing my books myself. Romantic
suspense has always been my favorite genre, and Phyllis Whitney was a
major influence in developing my love for suspense in contemporary and
historical novels.
Thank you, Phyllis, for all the enjoyment you've given me over the years.
In 1959 or 1960 I was still in high school but living in Taipei, Taiwan.
Someone gave me a copy of THE MOONSTONE, featuring a heroine named "Marcia"
who goes to Japan, and I became a Whitney fan for life. That I became
a mystery novelist is directly attributable to you and writers like you
who first penned novels featuring strong, female protagonists who I cared
about and wanted to emulate.
Thank you Phyllis A. Whitney for a book I read as a youngster that I still
treasure. "Step to the Music" featured my home town, Staten
Island, NY, and featured places that I knew and loved. I still have that
book after more the 50 years. Used it in my 5th grade classroom and recommended
it to my kids for many years, before I retired in 1999.
The world of mystery, suspense, love and nature have lost a great author.
At the age of 14, I started reading Phyllis Whitney and took every chance
of purchasing her books. I can proudly say that I have all of the books
she has published either in hardcover or paperback in my collection. I
work very close to her home and really missed the opportunity of meeting
her during her lifetime. She was a gracious lady and will always be remembered
by her loyal fans of which I am one. My sympathy to her family at this
time of great loss.
I found myself crying today when I heard that Ms. Whitney had died. 104.
Such a long life. Such a good life. I read Ms. Whitney's young mysteries
when I was a girl. They started me on my path as a writer. Her writing
books were on my Christmas lists and were the first books I read about
the craft. They're still on my shelves, and everything she says in them
holds up for writers today. I escaped into her books, went to different
countries, identified with other children who were trying to figure out
their families and their emotions and their goals. Decades after reading
these books, over and over, and playing with my own fiction writing, I
returned "home" and wrote my own mystery for children. It's
not yet published, but when it is, I'll be acknowledging Ms. Whitney in
the opening pages. I had dreams of sending her a copy and saying "Thank
you" to her for all she gave me. She probably knew.
I have read Phyllis Whitney all my life and I am 64! Phyllis was my first
gothic novel experience after reading Jane Eyre at 14. I loved her books.
Bless you and may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Fondly remembered from youth, inspired into womanhood, sadly bidding farewell,
from a listener of the tales read to her by her grandmother years ago
in lynchburg. God and the angels in Heaven needed
a good book to read. What a wonderful long life she lead and what a gift
that life was to those of us who loved her books. "The Mystery of
the Green Cat" was my first Phyllis A. Whitney read as a 10-year-old
and it hooked me for life. "Hunter's Green" remains my all time
favorite. My sympathy to her family and friends. She was a National Treasure!
Ms. Whitney's books were a beloved part of my childhood. As someone who
lived on Staten Island, I especially enjoyed her books set there, i.e.
STEP TO THE MUSIC and MYSTERY OF THE STRANGE TRAVELER. I remember trying
to figure out where the old house in the latter book might have been located.
Another favorite book was MYSTERY ON THE ISLE OF SKYE. Reading that book
intensified an already budding interest in Scotland. Years later, when
I visited Scotland for the first time in 1993, I made a point of going
to Skye and visiting Dunvegan Castle because of that book. My sympathies
to Ms. Whitney's family and friends.
I am so sorry to hear of Mrs. Whitney's death. I have been reading her
books since the 1960's. I own almost every juvenile and adult novel she
has ever written. I still read them often. I now teach Literature and
Writing to both Jr. High and High School students and every year introduce
new fans to Mrs. Whitney's books through my classroom library. Her ability
to make both settings and characters come to life reaches every generation
of readers. Her influence on my life has been immense and I have every
hope her work will continue to speak to many generations of young readers
and writers. Please extend my heartfelt condolences to her family.
When I was 11 or 12 I was mystery-crazy and got Mystery of the Haunted
Pool from the Arrow book club at school. It was exactly what I loved best,
with hidden compartments, a big, interesting old house, descriptions of
a bedroom I wanted for myself, a small Hudson Valley town and people I
would have liked to know. I discovered the practice of fore-edge painting
in books (still hoping to see one in person) and learned about sailing
ships, volunteer fire companies and how a community pulls together in
an emergency. That's a lot, for one small book. Since then I have become
a collector of classic juvenile mysteries, with many shelves full of stories
of varying quality by many authors. Phyllis Whitney's books are among
my most prized. During the warm months I sit every morning on my front
porch with my coffee and one of my kid mysteries, enjoying the fact that,
in my 50s, I can enjoy the adventures as much as I did when I was little.
The Haunted Pool remains possibly my all-time favorite among them. There
can be no greater tribute to a writer than the life-long love of her readers. What a long and marvelous life she led. My absolute favorite author.
She gave me so many hours of pleasure. I prayers are with her family.
I only recently discovered Phyllis Whitney after picking up a copy of
"The Ebony Swan". I have been reading several of her book, and
am sorry we have lost this great author. God bless you Ms. Whitney. Thank
you for sharing your craft and talent with so many.
I grew up reading Ms. Whitney's children's mysteries and was delighted
to discover her adult novels. I had often wondered if she was still living
and was saddened to hear of her death. What a tribute for her to have
lived to 104 and to bless up with so many wonderful stories.
I, too, grew up reading the novels of Phyllis A. Whitney. My mother and
aunts introduced me to her books as they would talk about her latest book
when it would hit the shelves at our library. I met an author friend of
hers in the 1980's when I was working in a nursing home in Florida. Ms.
Whitney would send him her latest books and he would read and re-read
them. He thought the world of his friend, Phyllis, and would tell me about
their times together when both were in Chicago. I moved to Virginia in
1988 and my Florida friend visited me in my new home. He worked out the
arrangements for a visit with Ms. Whitney at her home in Nelson County.
It was a wonderful day. He and Ms. Whitney had not seen each other in
many years. I met one of my favorite authors and was thrilled to see her
home and her writing room. She was everything I expected she would be.
She was smart, funny, warm, and full of life and spirit. She drove when
she took us out for lunch and it was then that I found out that she had
just recently learned to drive. I am saddened by her death but am happy
for her that she was able to lead such a meaningful and long life.
My mother and I read all of Ms Whitney's books . We would talk for hours
about her latest books and it was one thing my mother and I had in common.
Ms Whitney was one grand storyteller. Go in peace dear lady. I became acquainted with Phyllis A. Whitney's books in the summer of
1973 when I was 12 and my family had just moved to Germany. We were living
in temporary quarters awaiting a permanent housing unit and I was a frequent
visitor to the base library. I read a book by Phyllis A. Whitney and loved
it. By the time the summer was over, I had read several of her mysteries
for young people. I remember one taking place on Staten Island, and another
on Mackinac Island. I read her books for entertainment but I also learned
about places I had never been to, and her descriptions of places had a
way of exciting the imagination. As an adult, I rediscovered Ms. Whitney
in her mysteries for adults. Again, I enjoyed being taken away to different
locations and getting a real feeling for the places she wrote about. I've
lived in Virginia now for 26 years and frequently drive through the Charlottesville
area. The fact that Phyllis A. Whitney was living not too far from us
has frequently entered my mind. I enjoy the area we live in and imagine
that if Phyllis A. Whitney, an author whom I've admired for most of my
life, and who has been to and researched so many wonderful places in the
world, has chosen to live in Central Virginia, then I've made a wise choice
too!
I was first introduced to Phyllis Whitney's wonderful books by the principal
of the high school in which I was teaching in 1968. Since then I have
read and re-read her books. Her characters and the superbly researched
settings for her books kept me enthralled for many hours. I will sorely
miss Phyllis. A local librarian found this website for me when I once
inquired about how I could find out more about Phyllis A. Whitney. Since
then I have visited just to see if she was still all right and still working
on her autobiography. I frequently mention the website to others. This
last week I have had an urgent desire to visit here again, which I did
tonight only to learn that she had begun the last great adventure of her
life. May she rest in peace. She and her family and all her friends in
real life and through her books will be remembered in my prayers.
Phyllis was and remains an inspiration to the writers she left behind.
I never got to meet her which would have been one of the highlights of
my life. However, through her many works and interviews, I feel like I
know her, if only on the surface.
The first book I read of hers was the Ebony Swan. I found it in a discount
pile at a book store near where we were camping (my favorite way to try
new authors). The book captured my attention from the get go. Shortly
after while visiting my Grandma, I told her about the book that I had
found. My Grandma loved to read so I knew she would be interested. Her
eyes lit up as I was explaining the book and who the author was. I told
her how I was going to start scouring old book stores to find more. She
tells me go down stairs and look on the book shelves. Little did I know
that Grandma had been reading Phyllis for years. I was able to take home
so many of her older books. Many others I have found only in paper back
(my favorite authors I collect in hardback). That one book has started
my library. It was such an exciting feeling find a new author to me, but
being able to go and find books that my Grandma had collected. It is such
a sad day for me today. Today is the day I learned of Phyllis's death.
Please accept my deepest sympathies. She was an excellent writer and entertainer.
I discovered Phyllis A. Whitney's wonderful books during high school -
over 40 years ago. I continued to read her latest novel into adulthood.
I love to re-read them and I'd be hard pressed to name a favorite. She
brought me and millions of other readers hours of pleasure. Besides expressing
condolences, I think it is very appropriate to just say a heartfelt "Thank
you!". I am so saddened to hear about Ms. Whitney's passing. I have been a
fan of her writing pretty much my whole life...picking up one of Ms. Whitney's
books from my Mom's bookshelf when I was a young teenager. I was hooked...have
read every one of her wonderful books!! What a long, productive life you
lead, Ms. Whitney!! God Bless You! I first met Ms. Whitney at the dental office I worked in. When I went
home that day I told my mother about her. She said I have some of her
books. I secretly took the latest book to work and had Ms. Whitney autograph
it for my mother. I have enjoyed reading her books over the years. She
will be greatly missed!
Phyllis Whitney is my all time favorite author. I decided to check her
website and learned of her passing. Truly the best story teller ever!
I am now reading "Sea Jade" or I should say re-reading it. I
think I have read all of her books more than once. I am collecting her
books and have 15 of them. I visit antique stores, yard sales etc to obtain
these copies. My favorite book is "The Glass Flame" because
its setting is my home State. Did she finish her autobiography? I look
forward to reading it.
I was shocked and saddened to read in the paper today that Phyllis Whitney
had died. The first book of hers that I read was "Rainbow In The
Mist" and have read every book written since and have managed to
find a lot of her older books as well. She will be missed.
Thank you for the many books you have written over the years. My first
book I read of yours was the Secret of the Samurai Sword, when I was in
6th grade. When I was grown, Spindrift was the first adult novel of yours
I read. I grew up in Newport, so Spindrift's setting was very familiar
to me. Well, it's time to say good-bye, and again, thank you. Your books
will live on.
Phyllis Whitney's young adult books were my favorites, from my early teens
onward, especially "Secret of the Tiger's Eye." The first full
novel I wrote (I called it "Secret of the Silver Ram"), at the
age of 12 or 13, was an effort to duplicate the joy I got from her works.
As I got older, I moved on to her adult suspense novels and, eventually,
began selling novels for publication. I've seen 17 of my own books in
print--and a great deal of that is due to the inspiration that was my
joy in reading Phyllis A. Whitney.
Philip--first of all, thank you for maintaining this site. I'm sure it
has been a labor of love. I am the third generation of four who have devoured
and loved and will continue to love all of her books. I can remember visiting
the bookmobile to get a copy of one of her books. I know have collected
most of them and continue to read them==some for the 10th or more time!
I mourn the passing of such a great lady and writer.
Thank you, Ms. Whitney, for the many, many hours of reading pleasure.
I loved your books. You will be sorely missed.
I have read most of Ms Whitney's books. I am an avid reader and love her
books. I will miss her dearly.
I would like to say that my mother Beverly Aileene O'Kane Whitney Petek
loved Phyllis Whitney's books and she had not a few. She gave them all
to me a week before she passed away in 1993. We read all that she had.
I took a special interest in Phyllis Whitney as I'm sure she is descended
from John Whitney, who migrated to the US in 1635, as am I. Phyllis had
a keen sense of humor and a great ability to captivate her audience. She
will be sorely missed.
Last night I finished reading her book Blue Fire. Today (February 19th)I
googled her name and found out that she just passed away recently. A wonderful
writer...my favorite to be sure. I was so fortunate to have met her at
a resort I was working at on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. I believe
she was working on the book Ebony Swan while staying there. If you haven't
read it yet...please do! My condolences to her family and friends. She
was a lovely person.
From time to time, I go to the website to check up on how my dear friend,
Phyllis Whitney. I occasionally have been able to send her a birthday
greeting and wish her well.....Today, the news I had been dreading was
finally posted.....my dear friend had passed away.......I still have almost
all of her books and so she is still nearby.....(I have only loaned out
any of her books to one person because this person will return the books...but
no one else has ever been trusted.) My collection is quite precious to
me...and, no, I will not part with any of it now......or ever. Phyllis,
my dear, dear, friend......I will miss you...
Phyllis A. Whitney was truly an inspiration and a gift to us all! I only
knew Phyllis by her writing but she touched my life profoundly through
her work. The very first novel that I ever selected to read was “The
Winter People.” Although it is not one of her better known works,
it was my first opportunity to read something that was not “required”
by a teacher during my junior high years. I really identified with the
character of Dina, feeling misunderstood and aloof at times in my own
family. After that time, I was totally hooked on books, especially Mrs.
Whitney’s! I became a constant reader and loved reading so much
that I became a librarian. It is amazing to think that one book can really
spark something profound, shape a person’s destiny. The legacy of
Phyllis A. Whitney lives on, not only through her novels, but also though
the lives of those that she captivated with her delightful words.
Phyllis introduced me to worlds and people I could not imagine existed.
I read most all of her books. I had to recently part with my collection
as I am bursting at the seams with new reads. I donated the books to a
local senior citizen center and one fella took two books as I was stacking
them. Deepest condolences to her family but what a treasure for her to
have done so much with her life and lived to such an age. It saddened
me when she quit writing however I know at age 94 she was justified to
slow down a little. We have all been blessed by her life. May she rest
in peace in heaven with a computer and another story to write.
Thank you for making my teen age life a better one. I spent many hours
lost in the books you wrote. They helped me through some rough times.
I remember the thrill I got whenever I found another book I had not read.
I used my hard earned babysitting money to buy the books. Today forty
years later these books still sit on my bookshelf. Some of them have been
taped and reglued because reading them over and over has taken a toll
on them. You will be missed.
I am truly sorry to hear about Phyllis passing. When I was a young girl
I dislike reading, until I found her books in my elementary school library.
I have to give thanks to her for showing me that you can open up a book
and become one with a character. The first book I had my children get
at the library was one of Phyllis Whitney's. They too have grown to love
to open up a book and become part of the story.
As a young teenager I read and enjoyed lots of her books. The Mystery
of the Haunted Pool remains one of the scariest books I've ever read.
I also remember the Mystery on the Isle of Skye as well very fondly.
I started reading Phyllis's books in 1975. At that time I was just starting
high school. Her books gave me the desire to read. Now I read novels nightly.
I was sad to hear of her passing away. She was an exceptional writer!
Thank you for all the hours of enjoyment I received from reading your
books.
I was introduced to Phyllis Whitney when I was in high school in Northern
Illinois in the 1960's. She remained one of my very favorite authors up
through my adulthood. Glad to hear that she had such a long life and hope
that she was happy up to the very end. She was a great gal!
I was saddened at learning of Ms. Whitney's passing. But I take joy in
the fact that she left us so many wonderful stories to read and reread.
The first novel of hers to enter my voracious reading radar, sometime
in Jr. High while I volunteered in the school library, was "Seven
Tears For Apollo". Later, I came across one that may have been set
in Syracuse, NY, "Window On the Square". The plots of these
two books took hold of me and didn't let go until the end (maybe not even
then). They created in me a craving for more such engrossing story telling.
I can only hope that others will find her work and experience her writing.
My condolences to those who were closest to her.
Thank you for the memories reading has given me. Your books live on. Rest
peacefully.
I became an avid reader of Phyllis Whitney books in my teenage years,
a habit that continued for a decade or more. She was one of the names
I looked for, along with Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Helen MacInnes.
I became a teacher of English and history, interests honed by many hours
spent with authors such as these...they helped shape the world views of
many, I am sure. It is a real loss that Phyllis Whitney is no longer with
us, but we have been enriched by her life and her stories.
I discovered Ms. Whitney’s book "Dream of Orchids" published
in 1985 three days ago. The book touched me so that I wanted to learn
more about the author. Much to my surprise ,I discovered she had passed
away 17 days ago. Her passing came within 24 hours of one of my uncle's.
His death created quite a stir in our family when his illegitimate daughter,
whom no one knew of , showed up to meet her birth father while he was
on his deathbed. The books title, “Dream of Orchids” captured
my attention immediately because of my love of orchids. I never imagined
the story would mean so much to me because the dynamic working within
Ms. Whitney's fictional York Family was so similar to a reality being
played out in my own family. Different worlds, characters and details
though the same impact of " a single act, large or small that ripples,
that went on and on until they touch distant shores". I am eternally
grateful that The Universe placed Ms. Whitney's work on my path which
in turn has brought me greater compassion and understanding of the wheels
of change at work in my own life and family. How marvelous that her words
and works are transcending time & space! My deepest sympathies go
out to Phyllis Whitney's family. OH MY! She is one of my all-time favorite
authors. Her's were some of the first mysteries I read and I was hooked
from the first one! What an awesome life..104 years old. She was able
to write in such a fashion that I couldn't put the book down until I finished
it...and she wrote "clean" books, you know? She didn't need
to embellish them with excessive violence or sex. I could put myself exactly
where her characters were (places I had been myself) and really "be
there" while reading. Can anyone else ever capture her secret to
writing like that??
I am so sorry to hear of her passing. We had been sending newsletters
to her, but the last few were returned and we had no other address. Phyllis
sent us our first donation to build Terry Home in Pacific, WA. It is named
after my son Terry who was in a car accident in 1984. He was in a nursing
home for 10 years before we were able to build this home for young adults
recovering from head injuries. He was 18 years old. The home was finally
built in 1996 and we have 10 residents at a time with a waiting list.
I had written to Phyllis after reading her book "Flaming Tree"
(I think that is the right title. She mentioned a program her grandson
was engaged in and how it seemed to be working. I was interested and wrote
to her and she sent me the information and a donation. God bless her!
It gave me such hope, and after lots of hard work, blood, sweat and tears
we were successful. I would like to know how her grandson is doing, as
we kept in touch for several years but have heard little in the last few
years. To her family - "She was one of a kind". We are all richer
for having known her.
Goodbye, Phyllis. You will be missed. As a rather lonely young boy, I
found her children's books and they were a great comfort. Somehow, she
had the skill to make places in the modern world teem with an air of Gothic
mystery. As a young gay teen, I continued to read her adult stuff, and
I think the quests of the main characters searching for the truth were
a reflection of the quest I was making in my own life--for my own truth.
Always a master craftsman, Phyllis wrote with great skill and helped to
establish the Gothic and romantic suspense genre itself! I particularly
liked her books set in the U.S. because I was then able to see the world
around me as mysterious and exciting, since most other Gothics were set
in England or times gone by. I talked with Philip after the website originally
went up, and I don't think he was corresponding much with Phyllis then.
It's nice to see the relationship that developed between the two of them
over the years. My best wishes to her family, friends, and fans. We have
all lost something with this great writer's passing.
I was so startled and grieved to read just now on www.deadoraliveinfo.com
that Phyllis Whitney had died this month. I have told so many people in
the last year that she was still alive at 104. Such a remarkable person
and gifted writer whose books I have devoured and read over and over again.
I am so glad she died peacefully. Am wondering if she finished her biography.
I am in a state of shock, can hardly believe it.
She was truly a wonderful writer and will be greatly missed by all of
her readers.
I am heart-broken to find out this wonderful woman died and I didn't hear
anything on the news about it. I didn't find out until March 1, 2008.
I miss her already; I loved every single thing she every wrote. God, take
care of Phyllis, she was much loved around the world. Thank you.
My condolences to the family. A great loss to the writing community and
to her Legion of fans.
Thank you, Miss Whitney, for the many hours and years of romance and mystery.
All of your adult novels grace my bookshelves and look all the better
for being read and reread and thoroughly enjoyed. God keep you.
Phyllis Whitney was my favorite writer of mystery/suspense. She was absolutely
amazing. I discovered her in my teens with one of her young adult mysteries
and read everything she wrote after that. I'm now in my late fifties and
in the process of rereading some of my favorites, at present it is The
Stone Bull.
I have loved her books since I was very young. 50 years of marvelous reading
are too few for such a wonderful author. I hope that her estate will reissue
ALL of her books, both adult and juvenile in a mass market format so that
some of her early books can be purchased again. I have trouble finding
a few of her juvenile books. No matter my age, I still enjoy those. What
a great loss to the world of reading!!
When I was a young girl my parents took me traveling in Europe one summer.
At the bookstand in the airport I discovered my first Phyllis Whitney
mystery. I quickly 'devoured' it, but during our travels discovered that
she was published in Europe and bought 3 more mysteries to escape into
at bedtime. Thank you Ms Whitney for enchanting a young girl's heart with
romance and mystery.
My grandmother introduced me to Phyllis Whitney when I was fourteen, and
I am now in my 50's. Grandmother read all of Ms. Whitney's books, and
I have read most of them. She was a Grand Master of the written word.
She will be missed. I started reading Ms. Whitney's books when I was around
age 12, and continued throughout high school. I remember going to the
library with my mom and bringing home armfuls of them! I am still an avid
reader today, and am still a frequent visitor to our community library.
Thank you, Ms Whitney, for helping to develop my love of reading. Rest
in Peace~
In 1979 a friend lent me The Stone Bull which I enjoyed very much. I then
began to purchase Ms. Whitney's suspense novels myself starting with Domino
and ending with her last novel Amethyst Dreams. I was looking forward
to reading her autobiography when she finished it. I was checking the
website to see when the autobiography would be out when I learned of Ms.
Whitney's death. I am very sorry to hear of her passing. She was one of
my favorite authors and I have read her books more than once - Domino,
Silversword and Feather On The Moon are my special favorites. I hope to
be able to obtain the other suspense novels she wrote prior to Domino
so my collection will be complete. My condolences to Ms. Whitney's family. Phyllis Whitney's books were the first
ones about mystery/suspense that I remember reading. I loved to read in
school and would receive the reading award each year. I have read any
book written by her that I came across. If it was written by Phyllis Whitney,
I would pick it up. What a great enjoyment she gave to us. Thanks,
My Mom, my sister, and I all enjoyed reading Phyllis Whitney books while
in high school and college. We have found in recent years how much we
still enjoy the books. Her work will live on... Sorry to hear of her passing.
Can't believe I missed Ms. Whitney's obit, but glad I spotted it here.
What a grand old lady - 104! I am sure she did everything she wanted to
do in life and had no regrets at the time of her passing. I read my first
Phyllis Whitney YA novel in high school and truly I could not tell you
how many I read. Dozens, I am sure. Now I will have to go back and start
over, and pick up on the ones I missed. She was a great lady and a terrific
author, someone who could from the first word take you out of yourself
and your surroundings and into a totally different world. How I loved
her books, which were such a big part of my growing up. Condolences to
her family. May she rest in peace after a job so well done on this earth.
I was saddened when I read of the death of Miss Whitney. I've read &
enjoyed many of her adult novels, but it's her young adult mysteries that
have really stuck w/me for 30 years & more. The research that Miss
Whitney did to fill in the background of the plots, the interesting &
suspenseful plots themselves, & the engaging characters made the books
extremely memorable. My favorites were The Mystery of the Hidden Hand
& The Mystery of the Golden Horn. I wish Miss Whitney's young adult
mysteries were still available in libraries so I could share them w/my
daughter!
Phyllis A. Whitney has ranked as my first choice author for many, many
years. I was amazed last year to come to this website and learn that she
was working on her memoirs at the age of 103. I hope she finished. It
breaks my heart that there will be no more new books by Ms. Whitney. She
was, in my opinion, a national treasure. I once invited her to come to
my home and write a story, but I never received a reply. I send my condolences
to her family and friends.
No one can ever take her place. I have read and re-read her books. My
favorites are "Hunter's Green" and "Columbella". I
have probably read these two a half dozen times each.
I have read her books for years and loved them. I'm so sorry to hear of
her death, but what a long full life she must have had. Thanks to her
for hours of enjoyment! I started reading Ms. Whitney's book at age
9. I'm now 60 graceful years and still enjoy the mystery her books contained.
I will keep her in my prayers. Take care,
I have enjoyed Ms. Whitney's book over the years. I had just thought of
her the other day and wondered if she was still alive. I am sad to here
of her passing. I met her at a book signing once and she was a real lady.
I did know she had lived in Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mts. which is close
to where I am, and it was nice to know someone of her writing ability
was so close. She gave the world a lot of wonderful books to cherish.
Phyllis A. Whitney was the last of the great gothic writers. No one will
replace her.
Ms. Whitney's books forever altered the way I look at the world, distant
places and new cultures. Her books were imbued with a sense of mystery
and wonder, not just in regards to plot, but places and ideas. Her stories
shaped me from my youth and I realize now how special they were and how
much insight those books contributed to my life. She and her books will
always have a place in my heart.
My mama introduced me to Phyllis Whitney books when I was in high school.
I immediately loved them. I love a good story and she was able to tell
one. I wish I could have personally thanked her for giving me hours of
enjoyment.
I believe I have read every book Ms. Whitney wrote. She was a great author
and her books brought tremendous joy into my life for many, many years.
I was a faithful reader, and waited impatiently for her books to be published.
I have many of her books in my library, and still read them with as much
enthusiasm as I did when I was young. It was with great regret I heard
of her passing.
I was working on Mackinac Island when I first discovered Miss Whitney's
books. I picked up a copy of "The Mystery of the Gulls", and
I was hooked. I unfortunately don't like to read that much, but whenever
I picked up one of her books I knew I was going to have an enjoyable experience.
I am very sorry to here of her passing and I send my condolences to her
family.
What a wonderful life she must have had. I read her books as a child and
all through my adult years. As a writer, she was one of my role models.
What a wonderful author! I have been collecting and reading her works
all winter. So sad to know she has passed on. She was a remarkable author.
I enjoyed finding her books and taking those mysterious journeys with
her. I hope her legacy lives on and on!
I am so sorry to come upon the website now after quite a long time and
see of Ms. Whitney's passing. I have read a great many of her books and
for all the hours of enjoyment, I am eternally grateful. To me her books
have always been like "comfort food." Rest in peace, wonderful
author. You will be missed but your legacy will always live on in your
written words.
Ms. Whitney's books filled much of my free time with love and mystery.
I would read under the covers with a flashlight after everyone else was
asleep because it was too hard to put her books down. Thank you for the
wonderful characters and the memories. I just found out today that Mrs. Whitney had passed away. Why was this
not more on the news? She's at least as important - imo way! more than-
as the egg mcmuffin man. I loved her books and loved her through them.
She was such an inspiration - you just don't find them like that anymore,
more's the shame. Her book - The Case of the Samurai Warrior - was one
of the last books my 12yroldson would read for his book discussion group
before they got off on to some really weird stuff actually we found this
one because it was about royalty - the only one he would read because
it was not your typical European Middle Ages stuff - it was so real because
she lived it We will miss her just as my son was coming to love her, but
she lived a long life. It was by chance that I became a Phyllis A. Whitney fan. My husband stumbled
across her book "The Golden Unicorn." Since I love unicorns
and collect them he thought I might like the book. He was very right.
I don't usually like mystery and suspense novels, but I could not wait
to finish the book. Ever since I have collected her books and cherish
each one I have. I am from Maine and it is hard to find her books here.
I was very sad to hear of her passing, but heaven is holding on to an
"Emerald" of a jewel now. I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Phyllis Whitney. She was one
of the authors that I cut my teeth on when I began reading. I remember
checking out every one of her books from my school library and then my
county library as a child. I continued to read her books as an adult and
have a fair collection of her titles. I would get lost in the locales
and plots of the stories and found it impossible to put down. I also found
them wonderful to read over and over. While I will miss the excitement
of a new book by her, she will live on in her words and in my heart. Thank
you Phyllis Whitney for 35+ years of fantastic reading. I know that I
will go back to these books again and again. Ms. Whitney's novels were so interesting, that I could not wait to return
one I'd just finished and check another out at the library. I don't know
if I ever read them all, but I read all that were in my Jr. High School's
library and convinced my father to take me to the library downtown where
I found more. She is one of the authors who inspired me to write. Funny how you just "know" something.. I just knew that she
had left us. I haven't looked her up on the internet in years. I have
a collection of her books, at least 20 of them, and I have had the collection
at least 35 years. I know I can go back again and again & read them
as if it was the first time. I wrote to her once & she took the time
to write me back. I still have that letter to cherish. I am looking forward
to introducing my stepdaughter to a "good read". She is in good
"company" in Heaven & Heaven is glad to get her. Thank you
Ms. Phyllis & Godspeed. I did not become a reader until I hit Junior High. I was babysitting
one night and it was getting late and I was bored. There was a copy of
Thunder Heights on the table and I picked it up and started reading. I
was hooked. I give all my success in school to Miss Whitney, because due
to my constant reading of her books and Victoria Holts, my reading level
improved immensely. I regret that I never got to thank her for her gift.
I always thought it would be wonderful to talk with her and regret that
I will never get that chance. I have kept all her books and will treasure
them always. I will miss never seeing a new book from her again. My deepest
sympathy to all of her family and friends. I have read almost every book she has ever written. Phyllis has been
an inspiration to me in what could be done. To me she was the epitome
of writing. I will miss her. I own every book she wrote. I enjoyed reading each and everyone. I always
looked forward to her next published book. Although I never met her I
will miss her. How wonderful a gift and legacy Phyllis Whitney gave the reading world.
As an author myself, I began reading gothic novels years ago and Phyllis
was one of my favorites. She inspired me to write in the same classic
Gothic genre, and I hope to be able to carry on the style I found so intriguing
growing up. Ms. Whitney will be remembered as a great artist and writer.
Thanks for this website Mr. Tyo. I am not a very avid reader, but i loved her works. she will be missed.
Thank you for your fantastic writings. I just discovered today about the passing of Phyllis. I am a collector
of her books and feel as though I have lost a dear friend. I discovered
Emerald at a used book store, it had not a dust jacket and I didn't have
any idea of the plot or the type of writing for that matter. It was a
great read and lead me to seek all that I could find written by this great
author. I got that book only 8 years ago, I wish I had discovered her
work earlier in my life. I will continue to build my collection and cherish
the gifts she has given me. When I was in high school I hated to read because, mainly, of the books
we were "required" to read; so, I just put reading aside until
once when I was in an airport, bored and waiting on my flight, when I
picked up a book by Phyllis A. Whitney. I'd never heard of her, but the
blurb on the cover sounded interesting. She had me in the first few pages
and I've read every book she's ever written (and kept them for my daughter)since.
My husband and I spent a few days at Chimney Rock/Lake Lure, NC recently,
and I'm now re-reading Star Flight, which was set in that amazing area.
Thanks to her writing, I rediscovered a love of reading I had lost. She
was an amazing author and I thank her for her wonderful stories. I will
cherish her books more so in her death. I am very saddened of the passing of my favorite author since I was
11 years old. I discovered her books and have been a fan since. The first
of her books that I read was "Secret of the Tiger's Eye". Many
years ago, I tried to find a copy of it, but had been unsuccessful. The
bookstores could not find it listed anywhere, but then thanks to the marvel
of the internet, I was able to find the book and bought it. I have been
collecting all of her adult fiction books for a long time now and now
am on a mission to finish the collection. I always looked forward to each
new book and couldn't wait for the stores to get it in stock so I could
get my copy and read. I am going to miss her dearly. Ms. Whitney will always hold a special place in my heart and she will
be missed. I remember reading her books when I was very young; I checked
them out of the "big kids" section of the library even though
I was a younger reader. I loved her mysteries, loved the smell of the
paper the books were made from, to the words on the page, to the world
that Ms. Whitney drew me into. I wanted to become a writer, to do justice
to how she made me feel, and will miss her terribly. Her books will always
live in my memory, and my library, and I hope that whatever bright world
she visits next will value her as much as I have. Phyllis Whitney has been one of my very favorite authors since I was
a young teen. I went to Bellport High School (she lived in Bellport) and
later moved to Va - so I always felt even more like she was "family"
in a way. She has written so much about places I have been that I always
felt like I knew her. My 17 year old daughter is now reading her books,
and also enjoys them. She will always be missed. Dear Phyllis, Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us. I
began reading your books at age 19 and have loved them all so much. I
also could never figure out the endings, ever!! (Even though I thought
I could!) I am sad to know that you are no longer with us, but I know
the angels are happy to have you with them. May your family be comforted
knowing how much pleasure you brought to others. I will always be one
of your many fans. I found out today that Phyllis Whitney died earlier this year. Just
now, I realized that she died on my son's birthday. I devoured her young
adult books and she is the reason that I wanted to become a writer. I'm
not a published author yet, but because of Ms. Whitney, that dream still
lives and I still write. Her young adult books gave adventures to kids,
who were always the ultimate heroes of the story. She made me believe
that kids can do anything. I'm sad to her of her passing, but proud that
she lived so long and wrote so much. She will be missed. Dear Phyllis, I am and have been reading as many of your books as my
Library has in stock, starting from your very first book. You have been,
are, and always will be, a legend. Your picture looks like everybody's
grandmother! You feel like you know the author once you start reading
her or him; therefore, It is a pleasure to know you. Dear Ms. Whitney, you helped me through some of the toughest times in
my life. I love you for that. You were so descriptive and allowed your
readers to immerse themselves in the beauty and tranquility of the scene.
I remember I was with my youngest daughter several years ago after she
had relocated to Arizona. She wanted to take me for a drive and show me
some of the wonderful areas. We drove up the mountain and continued along
one of the roads toward Sedona, when suddenly I saw a sign that read "Tlaquepaque".
I couldn't believe it since I had never heard the word before. I literally
screamed and scared my daughter silly. Of course, we stopped and I had
to tell her about Phyllis Whitney, my all time favorite author. You will
be missed. Phyllis, You will never be forgotten. Your memory will live forever in
the legacy of all of your truly amazing books. Our loss is Heavens gain.
.... My prayers are with her family. It has always been a great joy to read Phyllis A. Whitney's many books
that she wrote and i will miss very much in not seeing any more of her
books beening published. Did she finish her bio on her life? She will
be greatly missed. She lived a very long life and she lived to see alot
of changes that our country went through. I'm so sorry this great lady is gone. What a writer! My favorite part
of her books was the variety of locations. I first read the juvenile mystery
books, then discovered the adult mysteries. I've collected most of her
books, even a lot of the juvenile ones. I know her books will live on
as young readers discover her books, which are as intriguing today as
always. Mrs. Whitney was and is my favorite mystery writer, I'll always
hold her in high esteem. Bless her family as they go on without her. Sincerely, Daughter of the Stars ROCKS! I started reading Phyllis Whitney books about 10 years ago. I love how
she makes you feel like your right their in the story. She will be missed. She was a very talented lady, and her books were always so good. She
was and will always be my favorite writer. I remember the first time I
read one of her books my grandma had given it to me "The ebony Swan",
and I did not put the book down until I finished it. When my Grandma passed
in November she left me all of her books, and in the collection are most
of Phyllis A. Whitney's books I will cherish them Forever. Ms. Whitney had a profound impact on my teenage years. The first book
I ever read was "Window on the Square" and my journey went onward
from there. I waited with anticipation for each book published. I started
with the paperbacks, as that was all I could afford at the time and each
Birthday or Christmas I would request a hard cover to add to my collection.
Her style of writing gave me such an imagination, once I began a book,
I couldn't put it down. Ms. Whitney had a special writing quality which
I believe to be unmatched by any other writer. She would research her
surroundings whenever writing a new novel and while reading each page,
you could always envision yourself there. She described each detail to
perfection. I had an opportunity to travel to Sante Fe and Alburquerque
and I took along one of her novels on the flight to get "reacquainted"
with New Mexico. I must say that within each page each detail was described
to perfection! This did not surprise me in the least. I've read, and reread
her books over and over again. She is and was my favorite author. The
world is a better place because of Ms. Whitney. God Bless her! When I was a young girl, I thought I would never like mysteries. Then
I discovered Mystery of the Green Cat. I was hooked. I sought out any
books by Ms. Whitney and eagerly devoured each one. As I grew older, I
continued to be a fan and read just about anything she wrote. What a gifted
writer! She truly motivated me to become an avid reader of mystery. I grew up reading Phyllis Whitney. She, probably more than any other
author, helped increased my interest in reading mystery novels. Thank
you, Phyllis Whitney. Phyllis Whitney was my first very favorite author at least forty-five
years ago. I have been collecting her books for many years and have at
least 50 right now. Thanks to this site's extensive list, I can continue
collecting the rest. The world lost someone special in February. She remains my favorite author. I have tried to collect all her books
in hardback only still lacking a few of the first ones. My mom turned me on to Phyllis A. Whitney when I was a little girl and
I have enjoyed reading her books over the years. Recently I have been
able to get copies of some of the older books that I didn't have and look
forward to enjoying each and every one. Phyllis left us with wonderful stories to reread and to pass on to future
generations. She was most talented and had a tasteful way of portraying
suspense. Her gift to us is still ours to enjoy. My first book was the
Golden Unicorn back in the early '80's when I was teen. I devoured every
book in a short amount of time and then bought her other books as they
came out. Her collection is truly one I treasure in my home. I have a
book club that meets at my house once a month and I am introducing Dream
of Orchids to my friends this fall. We will be doing one of her books
a year. Well, thank you Phyllis for not keeping your talent to yourself
but allowing us to meet many interesting characters and places. You will
live in my heart. What a wonderful long life she lived. The pleasure to all who loved
her books is a tribute to her life’s work. She will be missed by
all of her fans and those who have yet to read her stories. In the fourth grade, I read my very first Phyllis A Whitney novel, The
Golden Unicorn. I was hooked. I have hunted and purchased every book that
she wrote. She was an excellent author that brought such life to this
girl who was raised without a t.v. but with a wonderful imagination and
love for books. I cannot express the sadness that I feel. I have enjoyed reading Ms.
Whitney's books since 7th grade (Trembling Hills my favorite) and now
at the age of 34 I am reading Vermilion for the "hundredth"
time. I have yet to find an author that brings such class to what they
have written. I still find myself in the exotic settings of her novels.
She will be missed! The world has lost a truly unique person/writer. She wrote so far ahead
of her time. I really enjoyed her mysteries. I don't know if the auto
biography was finished or not, but have been looking forward to reading
it. Blessings and condolences to her family. I have been reading her books since I was 13(42 now)! I first discovered
Phyllis A Whitney on the public library shelves. I was hooked since the
first words I read! Her books have gotten me through a rotten childhood
and I always had something to look forward to in her new book. Every few
months I looked for news books and after a while they slowed down and
finally came to a stop. I was disappointed to see on the website that
she has passed away. I am so sorry for your loss and even sorrier for
the loss of no more new stories from the genius! I have been a police
officer for 18 years now. Her books actually gave me the courage to get
out of an abusive marriage and live a great new life. I did not let anything
stop me just like the heroines she wrote of. I will continue her legacy
by having my step daughters read her books. Thank you for sharing her.
Sincerely, I was sad to just find out about Phyllis Whitney's passing in February
of this year, but am honored to share with you my memories of her books.
I am a 47-year-old woman who has been reading Phyllis Whitney books since
I was a teen. I have always loved her style - the quiet, subtle romance
mixed in the appropriate amounts with intrigue and suspense. Phyllis Whitney
has filled my life with stories of so many different types of historic
and modern women living in locations throughout the world. I grab her
books to curl up with on a cold winter's night in front of the fireplace,
or while stretched out on a lounge sipping a coffee on a summer morning
on my back deck. I have read many different authors throughout my life,
but always come back to Phyllis Whitney. New books from her will be greatly
missed, but I will always cherish her old treasures. Blessed Be! Merry
Meet Again, Miss Whitney! You have been loved for a long time and will always be remembered. I always loved her books and found they touched me in a very special
way. I just found the posting of this wonderful author's death, and it makes
me very sad that I never had the opportunity to meet her. I personally
own a collection of 65+ of her books and treasure them for all the wonderful
hours of reading that they represent. I was a young teenager when I read
my first Phyllis Whitney book "Mystery on the Isle of Skye",
and I devoured every new volume I could find in bookstores and in libraries.
I am nearing 50 years of age now and still treasure the descriptions of
people and places all around the world. It was very clear that she heavily
researched the locations in which her books were set and always included
at least one very eccentric character in her page turning stories. I have
loved and greatly appreciated her work for many years now and will greatly
miss the possibility of any new additions to her work. I salute you Phyllis
Whitney... rest in peace. I first read one of her books in the 1970s when I was in my teens and
I was immediately hooked. She was a fantastic story teller and will be
sorely missed. I have all of her adult mysteries and am looking forward to her autobiography.
She is the only author to take time to personally hand write a response
to a letter I sent. I particularly enjoyed her thorough and interesting
descriptions of the various settings for her mysteries. I even planned
a trip around the U. S. A. that included as many of her sites as I could
manage. I had hoped she might select the City of Avalon on Catalina Island
as a setting, however, she preferred to stay closer to home at that time.
She will be greatly missed. Your books made my life tolerable. I went on adventures! I met people,
did things and traveled to places I had never dreamed of - all coming
from your pen. You helped teach me learn to dream and fueled my imagination.
I am so very sorry to have missed your passing and yet to me, you are
ageless. Thank you and God Speed. I have many of her novels. I think she was one of the best I have read
many of her books and enjoyed them. Phyllis is an amazing mystery story teller. I didn't discover her until
my late 20s and have enjoyed every book I've read of hers. She will be
greatly missed by peers, readers, and friends. I have enjoyed Phyllis's books since I was a teenage girl and still
love to read them now at age 56. |
|||||
|
|||||
Except where otherwise noted, all text and graphics on this Web site are © Philip W. Tyo. Written permission must be obtained from Philip W. Tyo before using any text or graphics from this site, either in printed material or other Web sites. By using this Web site, you are agreeing to the Terms of Use.
Copyright © scowlingboy designs 1999-2008
This site was created by Philip W. Tyo. All rights reserved.