Gloria Vitanza Basile (June 29, 1929 September 29, 2004) was an American novelist and songwriter. She was born in Westfield, New York, in 1929 to Sicilian immigrant parents. She studied at San Jose University and the University of California - Los Angeles. Before she began her writing career, she owned and managed a women's clothing shop. She published 13 best-selling novels, mainly romantic thrillers and later science fiction. She also wrote the song, "Ballad of One-Eyed Jacks," for the film, ''

One-Eyed Jacks ''One-Eyed Jacks'' is a 1961 American Western film directed by and starring Marlon Brando, his only directorial credit. Brando portrays the lead character Rio, and Karl Malden plays his partner, "Dad" Longworth. The supporting cast features Pin ...

'' (1961), starring

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he received numerous accolades throughout his career, which spanned six decades, including two Academ ...

. Her best known novel is ''The Godson'' (1976), later renamed ''House of Lions'', about a Mafia family; at the time, this was an unusual topic for women writers. In an interview, Basile said her childhood experiences with prejudice against Sicilians inspired her to research her roots, and resulted in ''The Godson'' and another novel, ''Appassionato'' (1978), set in post-war Sicily. She published two novels under the pen name Michaela Morgan.

Works

* ''The Godson'' / ''House of Lions'' (1976) * ''Appassionato'' (1978) * ''The Manipulators Trilogy'' ** ''The Manipulators'' (1979) ** ''Born to Power'' (1979) ** ''Giants in the Shadows'' (1979) * ''Marco'' (1980) * ''Francesca'' (1981) * ''Global 2000 Trilogy'' ** ''Eye of the Eagle'' (1983) ** ''The Jackal Helix'' (1984) ** ''The Sting of the Scorpion'' (1984) * ''Iago, Phaedra'' * ''Aurora'' * ''Bethaynia'' As Michaela Morgan: * ''Zanzara'' (1978) * ''Madelaina'' (1979)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Basile, Gloria Vitanza 1929 births 2004 deaths People from Westfield, New York San Jose State University alumni University of California, Los Angeles alumni 20th-century American writers 20th-century American women writers American writers of Italian descent 21st-century American women writers