Lucinda Riley

"Love knows not distance; It hath no continent; Its eyes are for the stars."

Lucinda’s The Seven Sisters series, which tells the story of adopted sisters and is inspired by the mythology of the famous star cluster, has become a global phenomenon. This fiction series is a must-try for romance readers, is a number one bestseller across the world, and is currently in development with a major TV production company.

She has also written a number of standalone novels, such as The Butterfly Room, The Olive Tree, and The Italian Girl.

Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold more than thirty million copies worldwide. She made a name for herself by crafting beautiful, romantic stories featuring strong women and stunning locations.

Meet Lucinda Riley

Lucinda Riley was born in Lisburn, Ireland and moved to England at a young age. She always had a strong interest in the arts, and enrolled at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts at just 14.

It wasn’t long before she landed her first television role, and became a working actress for many years. However, she was struck down with glandular fever in her 20s, which forced her to take a break from acting. Instead, she started writing.

She published her first novel The Seven Sisters in 2014, and became a sensation amongst readers around the world.

Sadly, Lucinda got sick again. This time, she announced that she was battling oesophageal cancer. For years she worked through her illness, and tirelessly published seven novels before she passed away in 2021 at just 56. At the time, she was working on her eighth and final planned novel in the series, Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt. Lucina’s son, Harry Whittaker, picked up the reins and completed the book, posthumously publishing it in 2023.

Harry was one of two children Lucinda had in her first marriage to actor Owen Whittaker. She also went on to remarry, having two more children with a man named Stephen Riley.