Virginia Henley is a bestselling English author, well-known for her historical romance novels. Her writing is known for its meticulous detail and thorough research, leading some readers to wonder if she has ever considered writing straightforward historical fiction. Henley's love for history began in her childhood, thanks to her father, Thomas Syddall. She pursued her interest in history and obtained a degree in the subject.
Henley is married to Arthur Henley, and they have two adult children and three grandsons. The couple divides their time between St. Petersburg, Florida, and Ontario, Canada. Henley is a New York Times bestselling author, with her work translated into fourteen languages. She has received more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
Henley is the author of 30 historical romance novels and five short stories, with her books published in 16 languages worldwide. She has received numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times, a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers, and a Waldenbook Award for top-selling long historical for 1994. Henley is known as "The Queen of Steamy Romance," and her books are praised for their ability to bring remarkable women to life in colorful, turbulent times. Her love scenes are described as heating up the pages, and her skill at portraying historical personages with humanity while maintaining historical accuracy is highly regarded. Henley's most recent book, Master of Paradise, is a Southern family saga that has never been in print. She is presently writing a scandalous Regency novella.