Catherine Cookson

Catherine Cookson was originally acclaimed as a regional writer. She hailed from Northumberland, England, which also served as the background for many of her novels. After winning the Winifred Holtby Award in 1968 for her novel,The Round Tower, Cookson's popularity spread worldwide.

In 1993, she was named a Dame of the British Empire. When Cookson died in June 1998, she had completed 104 works.