Margaret Way 1935—2022
It is with great sadness that we announce that Harlequin Mills & Boon author Margaret Way died on 10th August 2022, aged 87.
Margaret Way signed with Mills & Boon in 1970, and her first novel, Summer Magic, was published in 1971. A prolific author, Margaret went on to write over 120 novels for Mills & Boon, selling over twenty million copies worldwide and hitting the USA Today bestseller list. She captivated readers around the globe with her evocative romances set in the Australian Outback, which she delighted in bringing to life for readers through her signature cattle rancher heroes and rich descriptions of the striking environment they inhabited.
Margaret was born in Brisbane on 7th August 1935. She was the fourth of six children and had two sisters and three brothers. Margaret was a very high academic achiever at school and an exceptional music student. By the time she left school music had become her focus, and she was an outstanding pianist, accompanist and vocal coach. Margaret spent many years living in Auckland with her husband, Alan Way, who was a very successful baritone. Their son, Lawrence, was born in New Zealand in 1967. After returning to Australia Margaret wrote her first M&B book Summer Magic—and the rest is history.
Sadly, Margaret’s son Lawrence passed away in 1989 at just twenty-two years old. This turned her world upside down, and she took a break from writing for some time. But once she returned to her typewriter the books kept flowing for more than thirty years.
Throughout her writing career Margaret amassed a loyal readership around the world, whose letters were a constant source of encouragement and support. She retired from writing for Mills & Boon in 2012, and her last title, Guardian to the Heiress, was published in the Harlequin Romance/Mills & Boon Cherish line in March 2013.
Mills & Boon Senior Editor Carly Byrne says: ‘I had the pleasure of working with Margaret Way’s then editor, Linda Fildew, on many of Margaret’s books in the later part of her writing career with Mills & Boon. Her rugged rancher heroes, relatable heroines and vibrant Outback settings are still vivid in my mind, and no doubt in the minds of her scores of fans too, and this legacy will continue through her enduring backlist of books. She had the power to transport readers from wherever they were in the world to her beloved Australia and have us fall in love with her world too.’
Margaret Way is survived by her niece, Duchesne Barry, who says: ‘Margaret and I shared a special bond. She was my godmother, and we enjoyed similar interests in fashion, art, antiques and music. She was very close to my three children and was instrumental in introducing them to the piano. My daughter Camille, who is now thirty-three, has gone on to become an outstanding pianist and world-class violinist with an international performance career. We will all miss Margaret terribly.’
