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Judith Krantz

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Judith Krantz was a prominent American novelist, magazine writer, and fashion editor. She was best known for creating a specific sub-genre of romance fiction. This genre is often called the "bonkbuster" or "sex-and-shopping" novel. These stories focused on the glamorous and affluent lifestyles of high fashion. Her work often explored the intersection of romance, wealth, and luxury. Krantz became a celebrity author through extensive book tours and public promotion.

Krantz's career followed a path from journalism to massive literary success. She began in magazine journalism after moving to Paris for fashion public relations. She worked in the fiction department at Good Housekeeping. Later, she was promoted to the role of fashion editor. She wrote various articles for several famous magazines. These included McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal, and Cosmopolitan. Her most famous magazine article was "The Myth of the Multiple Orgasm."

Her journey into fiction was delayed by a specific academic experience. Krantz attended Wellesley College after graduating from the Birch Wathen School at age 16. During her sophomore year, she took a short-story class. Her professor liked her writing but gave her a B grade. The professor believed poor spelling required a lesson in discipline. Consequently, Krantz did not write fiction again for 31 years. She only returned to fiction after joining flying lessons with her husband.

Krantz achieved massive commercial success with her debut novel, Scruples. Published in 1978, the book reached number one on The New York Times bestseller list. The story described the high fashion world of Beverly Hills, California. She wrote several sequels, including Scruples Two and Lovers. Her second novel, Princess Daisy, was published in 1980. This book earned $5 million before its publication. The paperback rights for Princess Daisy sold for a record $3.2 million.

Her bibliography includes many diverse and complex stories. Mistral's Daughter, published in 1982, was a multi-generational saga. This novel explored women's empowerment and Jewish spirituality. It also addressed the persecution of Jewish people in France during World War II. Other notable works include I'll Take Manhattan and Spring Collection. She also wrote an autobiography in 2000 titled Sex and Shopping: The Confessions of a Nice Jewish Girl. She retired from writing in 1996 at age 70.

Krantz's impact is visible through impressive global statistics. Over 80 million copies of her books are in print. Her stories have been translated into 50 different languages. Seven of her novels were adapted into television films or mini-series. Her husband, Steve Krantz, served as an executive producer for some of these. She also created an original 65-episode television drama called Secrets in 1992.

Beyond her writing, Krantz was involved in various professional boards. She served on the advisory board for Compassion & Choices. This organization provides choices for the dying. In 2006, she joined the Board of the Los Angeles Music Center. Her family life included her husband Steve and two sons, Tony and Nicholas. She was also the sister-in-law of entertainer Shari Lewis. Krantz died on June 22, 2019, in Los Angeles.

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