Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, the author responsible for a bevy of best-selling, steamy romance titles, has passed away at the age of 68. The writer’s first book, The Flame and the Flower, was an instant best seller in 1972, and Woodiwiss has been turning out regular titles ever since. Woodiwiss died of cancer in Minnesota last Friday, according to son Sean. Over the past thirty-five years, Woodiwiss published thirteen novels – every single one of which made it to the New York Times best seller list. Woodiwiss was known for turning out detailed, thick novels in the 600-page range, setting her apart in an industry that was known for much skinnier volumes. She received a lifetime achievement award from the Romance Writers of America in 1988. Her last book, Everlasting, will hit the shelves in October 2007.