She has had 3 awards, one at the World Trade Centre where she received a standing ovation from her American fans, who had come from many states just to meet her. Many of "Presents" have been reprinted many times (some as many as 16) and are now fetching up to $55, being classed as "rare" books. She has the distinction of being number one in Harlequin Presents, Masquerade and Silhouette. He told her to write one - it was done in a month, entitled Eleanor and the Marquis under the pseudonym Jane Wilby. She suggested to Alan that they have a historical series. Alan Boon (the Boon of Mills & Boon) and she came up with the title for 'Harlequin Presents' over lunch at the Ritz. From the first book, came over 125 more written for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette. From the caravan she went to a small stately home, drove a Mercedes and sailed on the QE2. In 1969, her first novel, Eternal Summer, was accepted five days from posting and she soon had a contract for 12 more. But she never forgot her two ambitions, and when Manchester University decided to trial older women she applied, and three years later had achieved one ambition, so set her thoughts on number two. She went back to the rag trade and lived in a tiny caravan. Later, when her marriage broke up, she was homeless with £40 in her purse. Poverty after WWI deprived her of an education and at 14 she was making Marks & Spencer's blouses at one shilling (5p) each. At age six she had two ambitions: to teach and to write. Anne Hampson was born on November 28 in England.
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