Judith Krantz, the romance novelist with more than 80 million copies in print, dies at 91 - Los Angeles Times

Krantz was renowned for her discipline and rigor, writing 10,000 words per week and spending countless hours researching the historical eras in which her books were set. Her books often featured working women and themes of empowerment and achievement.

Despite her success as a writer, Krantz was often challenged about her choice to write in a genre deemed "trash fiction."

"You know, people think that because I had a good education, I'm not writing on the level that I should," she told The Times. "They think I'm harboring some slim little intellectual volume, that I am really Isaac Bashevis Singer in disguise."