Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey (1938) is an American novelist, playwright and journalist. A first novel was the bestselling novel, A Woman of Independent Means (1978) which was inspired by her grandmother. This was adapted into a major miniseries starring Sally Field and it was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in Outstanding Miniseries and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries. She has also written three additional bestselling novels: Life Sentences (1982), Joanna's Husband and David's Wife (1986) and Home Free (1991).