Penelope Halsall (née Jones; 24 November 1946 – 31 December 2011) was a prolific English writer of over 200 romance novels.

Her favourite books were those of Jane Austen, Dorothy Dunnett, Catherine Cookson, Georgette Heyer, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare's plays and poetry and the Bible.

[4][5] After reading a serialised Mills & Boon book in a woman's magazine, she fell in love with the hero.

From 1981 to 1983, she signed 3 air-hostess romps as Melinda Wright and 2 thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock, published by Columbine House.

[11] Across the Mersey[12] by Annie Groves with the subtitle "Two families must face the dangers of war", is dedicated "For all those whose hearts are in Liverpool, no matter where their lives may have taken them".