She remained interested in fostering the work of other writers. Later Iris lived with a partner, Peter Snadden, and continued writing. But on 15 April 2002 her husband of 48 years died after a stroke. In the latter part of her career she and her husband settled at Derwen Fawr, Swansea. Altogether she wrote about 40 published books, including 26 novels.

Iris Gower was awarded an MA in Creative Writing by Cardiff University, and an Honorary Fellowship at Swansea University (1999). It was one of many of her novels set in the copper, pottery and other industries of Swansea or in the rural life of Gower. She published her first novel, Tudor Tapestry, in 1974, but success came with her novel, Copper Kingdom (1983). She began writing in her twenties and had several stories published in magazines such as Woman's Own and Jackie. They settled in Manselton, Swansea and had four children: Tudor Jr, Angela, Susan and Paul.Īs a young woman Iris Gower worked as a nursery teacher and took other part-time jobs.

She and Davies married on Iris's 21st birthday. Her family lived in Swansea city centre, but afterwards moved to Mayhill, where Iris met pattern-maker, William Tudor Davies. Iris Richardson was born in 1935 in Swansea, the sister of Billy, Jean, John and Christine. They are set mainly in the seaport of Swansea and adjacent Gower Peninsula, from which she took her pseudonym. Iris Davies (1935 – 20 July 2010), pen name Iris Gower, was a British novelist from Swansea, Wales, noted for historical romances.

The Shoemaker's Daughter by Iris Gower