In the first decade of the 20th century, Myrtle Reed was a bestselling romance novelist, poet, cook-book writer, Chicago socialite, and philanthropist. From childhood, Myrtle suffered from obesity and avoided the taunts of neighborhood children by remaining indoors, reading and writing. Although not encouraged by her teachers, she pursued a writing career and by 1896 had many stories, articles, and poems published. She self published her first novel, Love Letters of a Musician, and after its initial run of 900 copies sold out quickly, obtained a contract with a well-known publisher.
