Transworld author Marcia Willett dies, aged 76

Author Marcia Willett, best known for her books set in the West Country, has died aged 76. 

Her publisher, Transworld, said she passed away on 30th June and paid tribute to a “warm and generous woman”. 

Willett only started her career as a novelist aged 50, having previously worked as a ballet dancer and teacher. She published 31 novels under her own name and four under the pseudonym Willa Marsh. Her final short novel, Christmas at the Keep, delivered when she was already ill with cancer, will be published posthumously in October of this year. 

She was born in Somerset but spent many of her years as an author living in Devon, a part of the world that inspired the settings of many of her books. She had devoted readers all over the world, and her books have been published in 16 countries.  

Her editor Francesca Best said: “Not only was Marcia Willett a perceptive and intelligent writer, she was also a warm, kind and generous woman who always had a twinkle in her eye and we will miss her greatly. We are very proud to have published her wonderful writing over so many years and are grateful that she shared her talents with us. Our thoughts are with her family, and with her many friends and loyal readers around the world.” 

Her literary agent Dinah Wiener added: “Marcia was my best friend as well as a very special novelist and I am honoured to have represented her for over 30 years.” 

She leaves a son, Charles, and grandchildren Rufus and Miriam.