LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Romance novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, the bestselling author of 18 books, will be inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame later this month, joining the likes of Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, organizers said.

The induction will take place on April 24 in Springfield Missouri, where the hall is based. Four other writers will also be inducted: journalist William Least Heat Moon, songwriter Wayne Carson, publishing pioneer Bob Glazier and late Missouri folklorist Vance Randolph.

During a career spanning nearly 25 years, Bradford has sold 74 million copies of her books in more than 90 countries. Her first novel, "A Woman of Substance," ranks as one of the top ten all-time bestselling fiction titles of all time with more than 24 million copies sold.

Bradford's 19th novel, "Emma's Secret," will be released later this year by St. Martin's Press in North America and by HarperCollins in the U.K. and Australia.

"Writing novels has been the most rewarding journey one could ever wish to take," Bradford said in a statement. "I encourage all young writers to challenge themselves every day. Never give up your dreams of someday being published."

Established in 1994, near Twain's birthplace, the Writers Hall of Fame aims to recognize, encourage and inspire great writing in America. Other inductees include Hemingway (2002), Robert Frost (2001), Dr. Seuss, Theodor Geisel (2000), Langston Hughes (1998) and Twain (1995).

Reuters/VNU