Born in the heartland of Illinois, a young girl with a strong work ethic began her journey as a strawberry picker in the lush fields of Missouri at the tender age of ten. This early start would lay the foundation for a life of multifaceted pursuits, as she would go on to describe herself as a "Jill-of-all-trades". With an insatiable thirst for adventure, she took on a variety of occupations, including that of a newspaper reporter, taxi-cab driver, lawyer's assistant, laundry worker, and press agent, all before finding her true calling as a writer.
Throughout her illustrious career, she penned an impressive array of over 200 short stories and eight novels, leaving an indelible mark on the literary world. One of her most notable creations was the Maisie stories, which would later star the talented Ann Sothern. Her literary endeavors did not go unnoticed, as she captured the hearts of many, including the renowned author Dashiell Hammett, to whom she dedicated her novel The Glass Key in 1930.
Beyond her literary accomplishments, she was also a cherished friend to several notable figures, including the esteemed authors Earl Stanley Gardner, Don Blanding, and the legendary actor Lon Chaney, Sr.
