Kathleen Winsor was a successful American literary fiction novelist, best known for her blockbuster novel, "Forever Amber." Winsor was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed a love for literature at a young age. At the age of 18, she made a list of her life goals, which included writing a best-selling novel. Winsor attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated in 1938. During her time in college, she married Robert Herwig, a fellow student and All-American college football player.
Winsor's interest in the Restoration period was sparked by her husband's research on Charles II. While Herwig was working on a paper for school, Winsor read one of his research books out of boredom and became fascinated with the time period. This fascination would later inspire her to write "Forever Amber," which is set in 17th century England during the Restoration period.
After graduating from college, Winsor began writing a thrice-weekly sports column for the Oakland Tribune. Although she only held this job for a year, Winsor later returned to the newspaper to work as a receptionist. However, she was fired in 1938 when the newspaper decided to reduce their workforce. Despite this setback, Winsor continued to pursue her dream of becoming a published author. Her hard work and determination paid off when "Forever Amber" became a best-seller and solidified her place as a talented and successful novelist.