Wells, Helen

Helen Wells, was a social worker turned full-time writer, and, like her most famous heroine, an Illinois native who loved New York City.

She was born Helen Weinstock on March 29, 1910, in Danville, Illinois. Her brother, Robert, has said that "Danville is pretty much the town that Cherry Ames lived in, and our house was her house." The family moved to New York City when Helen was about seven, and she loved New York. The family retained ties to Danville, however; almost every summer, they spent some time visiting relatives there. As a teenager, Wells studied painting at the Art Students Leagu...