Obituary Note: Robyn Sisman

Shelf Awareness

Publisher and novelist Robyn Sisman, who "began her career in publishing at Oxford University Press, where she worked first as a secretary 'but was so bad that they made me an editor,' " died May 20, the Bookseller reported. She was 61. Sisman later became an editorial director at J.M. Dent, "then joined Hutchinson, part of the Random House group, via a stint at the newly established U.K. arm of Simon & Schuster," the Bookseller wrote, adding that she "nurtured a young political journalist, Robert Harris, who had come up with an 'intriguing idea for a wartime novel with a twist.' Harris' Fatherland was published in May 1992."

As an author, Sisman's books include Special Relationship, Just Friends, Perfect Strangers, Weekend in Paris, A Hollywood Ending and The Perfect Couple?.

Imogen Taylor, publishing director at Tinder Press & Headline, remembered Sisman as a "fiercely private, true to herself and others, independent yet tremendously loyal and loving. She was courageous and fearless to the end, revealing her serious ill heath to only a handful of close friends. She was extremely sharp and funny, brilliant at many things (and also hopeless at others, including map reading and giving directions). She inspired much joy and laughter in the lives of her family and her many friends, and she will be desperately missed.