Ruby M. Ayres

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RMA , called by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biographyone of the most popular and prolific romantic novelists of the twentieth century,
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.
began publishing shortly before the second world war and produced about a hundred and fifty titles. She was also a journalist and short-story writer. Her novels are said to have sold more than eight million copies. She regularly wrote from 15,000 to 20,000 words a day.
“The Times Digital Archive 1785-2007”. Thompson Gale: The Times Digital Archive.
53378 (15 November 1955): 15
Cover of Ruby M. Ayres's "The Little Sinner, a love story", 1940, in the Hodder Yellow Jacket edition, 1950. It features a man drawn in black and white, a young woman in colour in a round frame, and palm trees.

Milestones

28 January 1881

Ruby Mildred Ayres was born at Gresham Villa, St John's Road, Watford in Hertfordshire, the third daughter in her family.
Her Times obituary gave her birth-date as 28 January 1883; apparently someone, probably herself, lopped two years off her age.
“The Times Digital Archive 1785-2007”. Thompson Gale: The Times Digital Archive.
53378 (15 November 1955): 15
“FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service”. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.

By September 1915

Four years after her first novel, RMA issued the first of her nearly 140 titles published in a highly successful working relationship with Hodder and Stoughton , Richard Chatterton, V.C..
Dated from the Bodleian Library acquisition stamp.
British Library Catalogue. http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=0&tab=local_tab&dstmp=1489778087340&vid=BLVU1&mode=Basic&fromLo.

October 1953

Forty-one years after the appearance of her first novel, RMA issued her last, Love Without Wings. Dark Gentleman had appeared by the end of May in the same year.
Dark Gentleman was acquired by the Bodleian Library on 28 May.
Ayres, Ruby M. Love Without Wings. Hodder and Stoughton.
prelims

14 November 1955

Ruth Mildred Pocock (who wrote as RMA ) died of pneumonia and a cerebral haemorrhage at a nursing home, Lulworth House in Ellesmere Road, Weybridge, after long illness.
“The Times Digital Archive 1785-2007”. Thompson Gale: The Times Digital Archive.
53378 (15 November 1955): 15
“Contemporary Authors”. Gale Databases: Literature Resource Centre-LRC.
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.

Biography

Birth and Family

28 January 1881

Ruby Mildred Ayres was born at Gresham Villa, St John's Road, Watford in Hertfordshire, the third daughter in her family.
Her Times obituary gave her birth-date as 28 January 1883; apparently someone, probably herself, lopped two years off her age.
“The Times Digital Archive 1785-2007”. Thompson Gale: The Times Digital Archive.
53378 (15 November 1955): 15
“FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service”. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.

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