Jacqueline Wilson, the prolific British author of children’s books, has come out as gay at the age of 74, the Guardian reports.

Wilson revealed her sexual orientation to the newspaper in an interview about Love Frankie, her 111th book, about a 13-year-old girl who falls in love with Sally, a new school friend. She said that her 18-year-long relationship with a woman named Trish has essentially been an open secret.

“I’ve never really been in any kind of closet,” she said. “It would be such old news for anybody that has ever known anything much about me. Even the vaguest acquaintance knows perfectly well that we are a couple.”

Wilson has been one of the most recognizable names in British children’s literature for years, with many of her books enjoying success in the U.S. She’s best known for her series of books about neglected 10-year-old Tracy Beaker, which kicked off in 1991 with The Story of Tracy Beaker. Her other books include The Illustrated Mum, Candyfloss, and Kiss.

Wilson told The Guardian that she doesn’t aspire to be a role model for young LGBTQ people.

“I don’t think that girls would ever want a grey-haired, wrinkly writer as a role model if they were wanting to feel good about maybe being gay,” she said. “I’m sure they could find much more glamorous examples.”

Not so, according to a Twitter user named Emma Ward.

“Well...I disagree,” Ward wrote. “This would have meant a lot to me as a fan of her books as a young teen. I hope others too!”

Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.