Its May Bank Holiday here in the UK and I'm just been sorting through more old tomes at Moonbase.
Behind Locked Shutters is a good example of the gothic romances which were popular in the Sixtoes and Seventies.
The most prolific author was Canadian Marilyn Ross who wrote all the paperback tie-ins for the US Dark Shadows TV series about family manpire Barnabas Collins.
Marylin Ross was in fact a man and wrote under dozens of other names including Dana Ross, Rose Dana and Dan Ross, under which he wrote Behind Locked Shutters in 1968.
Oddly enough he also wrote using his two wives' names: Charlotte McCormack who had died and the more famous Marilyn Ross, who was still alive when he used it.
Interestingly inside my copy of Behind Locked Shutters is this dedication by 'Dan' to his wife 'Marilyn'.
Interestingly inside my copy of Behind Locked Shutters is this dedication by 'Dan' to his wife 'Marilyn'.
'Novel one hundred' is an indication of just how prolific Mr. Ross was and many of his Dark Shadows novels were actually written using his wife's name Marilyn!
Fun to collect but be warned, it could drive you insane!
Have you any Dark Shadows novels?
Enjoy your May holiday!
PS. How are you celebrating May Day in your neck of the woods?
Great collection of books and an interesting article, Woodsy. Mr. Ross was certainly a prolific writer. But I guess even successful writers may have struggled at some point during their careers. Two of my own fave fictional writers are Stephen King's troubled Jack Torrance, who has severe writers block... and Paul Sheldon, the successful romance novelist from Misery, who has crippling problems of his own. Perhaps these things are just occupational hazards which go with the job? Hopefully Mr. Ross had a better deal, ha ha. Hope you have a great may Bank Holiday :)
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