Sheila Walsh (novelist)

Sheila Walsh
Born Sheila Frances O'Nions
(1928-10-10)10 October 1928
Birmingham, England, UK
Died 20 January 2009(2009-01-20) (aged 80)
Pen name Sheila Walsh
Sophie Leyton
Occupation Novelist
Nationality British
Period 1975–2001
Genre romance
Spouse Desmond Walsh (1950–2009)
Children 2

Sheila Frances Walsh (née O'Nions; 10 October 1928 – 20 January 2009) was a British writer of romance novels from 1975 to 2001; she also wrote as Sophie Leyton.

In 1971, she joined the Southport Writers' Circle and was elected life president in 1986. In 1980 she became the vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association and later was the 13th elected Chairman (1985–1987).[1]

Biography

She was born Sheila Frances O'Nions on 10 October 1928 in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom. She was the daughter of Wilfred O'Nions, a civil servant, and his wife Margaret (Moran) O'Nions. She studied at the Notre Dame Convent at Birkdale, Southport. During the World War II, her family moved to Southport, Lancashire, where she met Desmond Walsh, son of Thomas Walsh, who owned a jewelry store at 39 Chapel Street since 1926.[2] She studied at Southport College of Art, from 1945-48.

Personal life

On 22 April 1950, Sheila married Desmond Walsh, and they had two daughters, Frances Mary and Teresa.[2] Sheila worked during years in her husband's familiar jewelry store, with her husband, her brother-in-law, Gerard Walsh, and the latter's wife, Dorothy.[2]

Awards

Her debut novel, The Golden Songbird, won the Netta Muskett award for new writers from the Romantic Novelists' Association, and in 1984, her novel, A Highly Respectable Marriage, won the Elizabeth Goudge award.

Death

Sheila Walsh died on 20 January 2009, at age 80, from undisclosed causes.

Bibliography

As Sheila Walsh[3]

Single novels

Omnibus

As Sophie Leyton

Single novels

References and sources

  1. Past RNA Officers, retrieved November 13, 2016
  2. 1 2 3 Taylor, Christine (March 28, 2009), "Sheila Walsh's Obituary at guardian.co.uk", The Guardian, London, UK, retrieved May 23, 2010
  3. Sheila Walsh at fantasticfiction
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