Belva Plain was a renowned American author, best known for her women's fiction and family sagas. She is particularly famous for writing the Werner Family Saga, a series of novels that tackled common social issues such as divorce, child molestation, adoption, abduction, and babies switched at birth. Plain's novels have been translated into over 20 different languages, and at the time of her death, there were more than 30 million printed copies of her books worldwide. Out of her 27 novels, 21 made it to the New York Times Bestseller List.
Plain's writing career began in the 1940s when she sold her first story to Cosmopolitan. During the early years of her career, she wrote short stories for various magazines. However, it was only after the birth of her first child that she decided to try her hand at writing a full-length novel. Plain's debut novel, Evergreen, was published in 1978 and became an instant success. It topped the New York Times bestseller list for 41 weeks and was later adapted into a television mini-series. The book also marked the beginning of the Werner Family series. Plain's final novel, Heatwood, was released in 2011.
Belva Plain was born in New York City in 1915 and grew up in a traditional Jewish family. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College in 1935. Plain's writing focused on the lives and experiences of women, and she was known for her keen insights into human relationships and emotions. Her novels were characterized by their intricate plotlines, engaging characters, and thoughtful exploration of social issues. Plain's work has been praised for its honesty, compassion, and emotional depth. She passed away in 2010, leaving behind a legacy of powerful and enduring novels.