Lozania Prole

Lozania Prole is a pen name of Ursula Bloom, one of the most popular bestselling authors of the twentieth century. She wrote over 560 books, a feat which earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most prolific female writer. She also wrote short stories, radio and stage plays, and worked as a Fleet Street journalist.

In 1916, Ursula married Captain Arthur Denham-Cookes of the 24th London Regiment, in the parish church in Frinton, Essex. The following year, their son, Pip, was born. Arthur died in 1918 during the influenza epidemic.

Ursula moved to London with the intention of becoming a journalist. Through dogged determination, she became chief crime reporter for the Sunday Dispatch and Empire News. Her biggest success came when she tracked down Ethel le Neve, Dr Crippen's lover, who had gone into hiding after his execution.

In 1925, Ursula married her second husband, Charles Gower Robinson, a Royal Navy Commander. For some years they lived in Malta, where he was stationed. Eventually they moved to a flat in Chelsea, London.

Ursula was a disciplined and hard-working writer. As well as her journalism, novels, non-fiction, and plays, she was also the beauty editor for Woman's Own, and wrote the problems page for another magazine. Starting work at seven am, she aimed to write 10,000 words a day.

Ursula regularly appeared on national television and radio, advertised products such as Basildon Bond notepaper, and was a judge for Miss Great Britain, a nationwide Persil competition, and needlework contests, among others. She was an expert needlewoman herself, frequently exhibiting her work.

During her long career, as well as writing books under her own name, Ursula used the pen names Sheila Burns, Rachel Harvey, Lozania Prole, Mary Essex and Deborah Mann.