Novelist Belva Plain dies at 95

Belva Plain, who wrote more than 20 bestselling novels, died in her sleep Tuesday at her home in New Jersey, her daughter Barbara said. She was 95.

Plain, known for epics about family and forgiveness, wrote her novels longhand on a yellow pad. She had written short fiction for women's magazines but didn't start writing novels until after she became a grandmother.

Her first novel, "Evergreen," was published in 1978 and spent more than 40 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and was developed into a TV miniseries.

Shortly before her death, Plain completed a sequel to "Evergreen," which will be published in February.

-- Associated Press