Lolly Winston is an accomplished novelist and short story writer best known for her New York Times bestselling debut novel, "Good Grief," published in 2004. The book, which explores themes of loss and resilience, became a #1 Book Sense pick and was translated into 15 languages, with film rights optioned by Universal Studios. Her second novel, "Happiness Sold Separately," also achieved critical acclaim, landing on the New York Times bestseller list upon its 2006 release. Winston's short fiction and essays have appeared in literary journals such as The Sun and The Southeast Review, as well as anthologies including "Kiss Tomorrow Hello" and "Bad Girls."
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Winston earned an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College, where she developed a collection of short stories as her thesis. Before dedicating herself to fiction, she worked in various roles, from corporate copywriting to freelance journalism, contributing to publications like the San Jose Mercury News, Glamour, and Redbook. Her writing often blends humor with poignant observations on human relationships and personal growth. Winston has taught fiction, feature writing, and personal essays, drawing inspiration from a wide range of authors, including Flannery O'Connor, Jane Austen, and David Sedaris. She resides in Northern California with her husband.