Sheila Hodgson, senior editor for Mills & Boon, dies aged 66

Sheila Hodgson, senior editor for Mills & Boon, now a division of HarperCollins, died of a short illness aged 66 on 6th August 2025. 

Hodgson grew up in the North East and moved to London to start her publishing career in the early 1980s, joining Mills & Boon in May 1994 after being a freelancer for several years.

During her 31-year career with the company, she was known for her work as senior editor of the Medical Romance series. She also acquired widely for Mills & Boon Modern, Mills & Boon Historical and Mills & Boon True Love (Romance).

In a statement, HarperCollins said it was “deeply saddened” to share the news: “Throughout her 31 years on the team, Sheila had been an insightful expert and champion of the romance publishing industry and an exceptional editor. She will be deeply missed by her colleagues and authors with whom she shared her warmth, humour and constant support. We offer our deepest condolences to Sheila’s husband and family and wide network of colleagues and friends.”

Caroline Anderson said: “I was privileged to have Sheila as my editor for 26 years, and I was heartbroken to hear the news. To say she was my editor is to leave out so much - her wonderful sense of humour, her kindness and compassion, her tolerance, her annoying habit of being right about the edits - she was my guiding light, my cheerleader, my plot-crunching buddy, and I’ll miss her more than words can ever say. Deepest condolences to her work colleagues, her authors, and most of all to her husband Stephen. RIP, Sheila. You’ll be sorely missed.”

Kate Hardy also shared a tribute. “The very first time I met Sheila - at a Mills & Boon author lunch, the month before my first M&B came out - she made me welcome and told me she loved my book. I remember feeling quite overawed that the Senior Medicals Editor had even noticed me! Over the next nearly a quarter of a century, I came to know her better as both my editor and as my friend; I will always value her kindness, her sense of humour and her warmth,” she said.

“She was always very supportive and I always remember it feeling like sunshine when I spent time in her company, even when it was actually pouring with rain outside! She was always the first to cheer at awards dos, and I have wonderful memories of discussions about dogs (her Cavalier and my Springers), exchanging puppy photos, and the nice way she had about making you ‘dig deeper’ when revising a book (her other authors will know those words well!). She’s going to be hugely missed by everyone who knew her. My deepest condolences to her family and friends. 

In an Instagram post author Kate MacGuire said: “I was shocked and saddened to learn that my editor, Sheila Hodgson, passed away suddenly last week. Sheila was the senior editor for Harlequin’s Medical Romance line for 30-plus years. She was a smart, talented editor who taught me a lot in the short time we worked together. She was also a warm, authentic woman who made me feel very welcome when I met her in Toronto last year.

“I will really miss her wisdom, support and friendship. My deepest condolences to her family and friends.”

If you would like to share a tribute to Sheila Hodgson, please email lauren.brown@thebookseller.com.