{{short description|American novelist (born 1948)}} {{Infobox writer | image = Elizabeth Berg signing book.jpg | name = Elizabeth Berg | caption = Berg at a book signing | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|12|2|mf=y}} | birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | occupation = Novelist, essayist, memoirist | alma_mater = University of Minnesota | period = 1993–present | notable_works = ''The Story of Arthur Truluv'', ''Open House'', ''The Dream Lover'' | website = {{URL|https://www.elizabeth-berg.net}} }}
'''Elizabeth Berg''' (born December 2, 1948) is an American novelist and former registered nurse. She writes character‑focused stories about family life and personal change, and her work has been recognized by the American Library Association.<ref>{{cite web |last=Berg|first=Elizabeth |title=Elizabeth Berg (1948–)|website=Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/berg-elizabeth-1948-0 |publisher=Gale|access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref>
== Early life and education == She was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and lived in Boston prior to her residence in Chicago. She studied English and Humanities at the University of Minnesota, but later ended up with a nursing degree.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/escapingintoopen00berg|title=Escaping into the open : the art of writing true|last=Berg, Elizabeth|date=1999|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=0060191791|edition=1st|location=New York|oclc=40675000|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elizabeth-berg.net/site/epage/47233_662.htm|title=About Elizabeth|website=www.elizabeth-berg.net|access-date=2019-08-11}}</ref>
== Career == Her writing career started when she won an essay contest in ''Parents'' magazine. Since her debut novel in 1993, her novels have sold in large numbers and have received several awards and nominations, although some critics have tagged them as sentimental.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/04/05/elizabeth-berg-on-tapestry-of-fortunes/|title = Elizabeth Berg on 'Tapestry of Fortunes'}}</ref> Her novel ''Talk Before Sleep'' was shortlisted for the ABBY Award in 1996.<ref name="WBEZ">{{cite web |title=Elizabeth Berg |website=WBEZ |url=https://www.wbez.org/science/2008/05/15/elizabeth-berg |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> She won the New England Book Awards in 1997.<ref>[http://www.newenglandbooks.org/Default.aspx?pageId=234046 The New England Book Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214041813/http://newenglandbooks.org/Default.aspx?pageId=234046 |date=2009-02-14 }}, New England Independent Booksellers Association, retrieved on January 7, 2009.</ref> Her later novels, including ''True to Form'', ''Never Change'', and ''Open House'', became national bestsellers, with ''Open House'' being selected for Oprah’s Book Club in 2000. ''Durable Goods'' and ''Joy School'' were named American Library Association Best Books of the Year, and she also published the nonfiction work ''Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True''. In 2008, Berg gave public readings from her collection ''The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation''.<ref name="WBEZ" />
In 2009, Berg began writing ''Home Safe'' after a period when she felt worn out, later saying that working on the novel helped her return to her writing routine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Elizabeth Berg |website=Writer's Digest |url=https://www.writersdigest.com/improve-my-writing/elizabeth-berg |access-date=31 March 2026 }}</ref> In 2010, Berg served as the keynote speaker at Catawba College’s Brady Author’s Symposium, where she discussed her work and the themes that shape her fiction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Author Elizabeth Berg to Speak at Catawba’s 24th Annual Brady Author’s Symposium |website=Catawba College |url=https://catawba.edu/news/all-news/archives/author-elizabeth-berg-to-speak-at-catawbas-24th-a/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> In 2011, Berg published ''Once Upon a Time, There Was You'', saying that one of its characters was inspired by a longtime friend from Saint Paul, Minnesota.<ref>{{cite web |title=If Berg’s books seem familiar, it’s because she has family in Minnesota — and a longtime St. Paul friend inspired a character in her latest novel |website=TwinCities.com |url=https://www.twincities.com/2011/04/24/if-bergs-books-seem-familiar-its-because-she-has-family-in-minnesota-and-a-longtime-st-paul-friend-inspired-a-character-in-her-latest-novel/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> That same year, she took part in the Chicago Tribune’s Author Talks series with Jacquelyn Mitchard, reflecting her ongoing involvement in the Chicago-area literary scene.<ref>{{cite web |title=Author Talks: Elizabeth Berg and Jacquelyn Mitchard |website=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/09/07/author-talks-elizabeth-berg-and-jacquelyn-mitchard/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> In 2012, Berg appeared at a public literary event hosted by the Algonquin Area Public Library in Illinois, where she read from her new work and introduced fellow author Betsy Woodman.<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Times Bestselling Author Elizabeth Berg to Visit Algonquin |website=Patch |url=https://patch.com/illinois/algonquin/bp--new-york-times-bestselling-author-elizabeth-berg-6c61a09ced |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> In 2013, Berg published the novel ''Tapestry of Fortunes'', a story set in her birthplace of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The opening chapter was featured by the Star Tribune.<ref>{{cite web |title=Opening Lines: 'Tapestry of Fortunes,' by Elizabeth Berg |website=Star Tribune |url=https://www.startribune.com/opening-lines-tapestry-of-fortunes-by-elizabeth-berg/201511601 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref>
In 2014, Berg contributed an original essay to the Chicago Public Library’s One Book, One Chicago program as part of its ''Chicago Heroes'' series.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guest Blog: Author Elizabeth Berg on Heroes |website=Chicago Public Library |url=https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/guest-blog-author-elizabeth-berg-on-heroes/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> Later that year, she drew media attention when she shared her mother’s Christmas essay on social media, an act that was reported by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.<ref>{{cite web |title=Author Elizabeth Berg’s mom has a secret Santa — her daughter |website=TwinCities.com |url=https://www.twincities.com/2014/12/18/author-elizabeth-bergs-mom-has-a-secret-santa-her-daughter/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> In 2015, Berg launched the literary series Writing Matters at the Ernest Hemingway Museum in Oak Park, creating a venue to support midlist authors and host public reading events. The program was profiled by the Chicago Tribune.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elizabeth Berg’s Writing Matters series offers support for midlisters |website=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/03/12/elizabeth-bergs-writing-matters-series-offers-support-for-midlisters/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> Also in 2015, Berg published the historical novel ''The Dream Lover'', a fictionalized account of the life of George Sand. The book was reviewed by The New York Times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Literary Lives |last=Bauer |first=Carlene |website=The New York Times |date=14 June 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/books/review/literary-lives.html |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> In 2016, Berg gave a reading from her collection ''Make Someone Happy: Favorite Postings'' at the St. Joseph County Public Library in South Bend. The event was covered by the South Bend Tribune.<ref>{{cite web |title=Best-selling author to appear at SJCPL on Wednesday |website=South Bend Tribune |date=9 August 2016 |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/local/2016/08/09/best-selling-author-to-appear-at-sjcpl-on-wednesday/46303965/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref>
In 2017, Berg published the novel ''The Story of Arthur Truluv'', which received a positive review from USA Today.<ref>{{cite web |title=It's 'Truluv' when a widower and lonely teen connect in Elizabeth Berg's charming novel |website=USA Today |date=21 November 2017 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2017/11/21/book-review-the-story-of-arthur-truluv-elizabeth-berg/864378001/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> Later in 2017, Berg appeared as part of the Fogle Author Series at the Rodman Public Library, where she discussed her work and met with readers. The event was reported by The Alliance Review.<ref>{{cite web |title=Author Elizabeth Berg to speak at Rodman Public Library |website=The Alliance Review |date=11 November 2017 |url=https://www.the-review.com/story/news/2017/11/12/author-elizabeth-berg-to-speak/17071366007/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> As part of her ongoing work, Berg released ''Night of Miracles'' in 2018, the second novel set in Mason, Missouri. ''USA Today'' described the book positively in its review.<ref>{{cite web |title='Night of Miracles': Elizabeth Berg's tale of small-town America offers a slice of comfort |website=USA Today |date=12 November 2018 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2018/11/12/night-miracles-elizabeth-bergs-tale-small-town-america-book-review/1908192002/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> The novel also drew favorable coverage from the Boston Herald, which described it as a warm and comforting read.<ref>{{cite web |title='Miracles' a cozy, uncomplicated read |website=Boston Herald |date=27 December 2018 |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/12/27/miracles-a-cozy-uncomplicated-read/ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> In 2019, Berg published ''The Confession Club''. The novel was featured by the Chicago Sun-Times as one of the notable new book releases of the season, with the article highlighting a positive remark from Publishers Weekly.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elizabeth Berg’s ‘Confession Club,’ ‘Anonymous’ on Donald Trump and 3 other hot new books |website=Chicago Sun-Times |date=19 November 2019 |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/11/19/20972838/elizabeth-berg-confession-club-anonymous-donald-trump-david-baldacci-tom-rosenstiel-kosher-capones |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref> Later in 2019, Berg discussed ''The Confession Club'' at an author event hosted by The BookMark in Neptune Beach, an appearance reported by the Florida Times-Union.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bookmarks: Author to discuss ‘Confession Club’ |website=The Florida Times-Union |date=30 November 2019 |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/books/2019/12/01/bookmarks-author-to-discuss-confession-club/2179199007/ |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref>
In 2020, Berg published ''I’ll Be Seeing You: A Memoir'', about caring for her aging parents. The book was reviewed by The New York Times.<ref>{{cite web |last=Witchel |first=Alex |title=When It Comes to Aging Parents, Information and Solidarity Are Key |website=The New York Times |date=27 October 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/books/review/elizabeth-berg-ill-be-seeing-you.html |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref> It was later featured in Arab News upon release.<ref>{{cite web |title=What We Are Reading Today: I’ll Be Seeing You by Elizabeth Berg |website=Arab News |date=18 November 2020 |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1764671/books |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref> In 2023, Berg discussed her novel ''Earth’s the Right Place for Love'' at an event hosted by the Evergreen Park Public Library in Illinois, where she spoke about returning to the characters from ''The Story of Arthur Truluv'' (2017).<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Kelly |title=Elizabeth Berg returns to Evergreen Park Public Library |website=The Reporter |date=8 July 2023 |url=https://www.fiftyplusadvocate.com/2022/10/06/bestselling-novelist-elizabeth-berg-relishes-years-spent-living-in-massachusetts/ |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref> In 2026, Berg published ''Life: A Love Story'', a novel released by Random House.<ref>{{cite web |title=Life: A Love Story |website=Google Books|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Life_A_Love_Story.html?id=4ttmEQAAQBAJ |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref>
== Works == The novels ''Durable Goods'', ''Joy School'', and ''True to Form'' form a trilogy about the 12-year-old Katie Nash, in part based on the author's own experience as a daughter in a military family.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elizabeth Berg|website=Penguin Random House |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048/elizabeth-berg/ |access-date=31 March 2026|quote=More Series From Elizabeth Berg: Katie Nash }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=True to Form |publisher=Random House|year=2002 |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/True_to_Form.html?id=ohx1EAAAQBAJ |access-date=31 March 2026 }}</ref> Her essay "The Pretend Knitter" appears in the anthology ''Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting'', published by W. W. Norton & Company in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting |website=Bookreporter|url=https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/knitting-yarns-writers-on-knitting/about |access-date=31 March 2026|quote=Includes essays by 27 writers including Elizabeth Berg}}</ref>
In 2000, a made-for-television drama film titled ''Range of Motion'', based on her 1995 novel, was released starring Rebecca De Mornay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Range of Motion |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104190555/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67369760.html |website=HighBeam Research |publisher=HighBeam |date=2000 |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref>
== Bibliography == *''Family traditions: celebrations for holidays and everyday'' (1992),<ref>{{cite book |last=Berg|first=Elizabeth |title=Family Traditions: Celebrations for Holidays and Everyday |publisher=Reader's Digest Association|year=1992 |url=https://archive.org/details/familytraditions0000berg |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> illustrations by Robert Roth *''Durable Goods'' (1993),<ref>{{cite web |title=Durable Goods|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780679422082 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> selected among the ALA's Best Books of the Year *''Talk Before Sleep'' (1994)<ref>{{cite web |title=Talk Before Sleep|website=Publishers Weekly |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/9780440221098 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Range of Motion'' (1995)<ref>{{cite web |title=Range of Motion – Book Review |website=Spirituality & Practice |url=https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/7404/range-of-motion |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Pull of the Moon'' (1996)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Pull of the Moon |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780679449720 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Joy School'' (1997), selected among the ALA 1998 Best Books for Young Adults<ref>[http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/1998bestbooks.cfm 1998 Best Books for Young Adults] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210200537/http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/1998bestbooks.cfm |date=2010-02-10 }}, Young Adult Library Services Association, ALA website, retrieved on January 7, 2009.</ref> *''What We Keep'' (1998)<ref>{{cite web |title=What We Keep|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375500992 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True'' (1999),<ref>{{cite web |title=Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True|website=Richland Library |url=https://www.richlandlibrary.com/catalog/detail/579455 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> non-fiction *''Until the Real Thing Comes Along'' (1999)<ref>{{cite web |title=Until the Real Thing Comes Along |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780679457220 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Open House'' (2000),<ref>{{cite web |title=Open House|website=Publishers Weekly|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375501005 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> Oprah's Book Club selection *''Never Change'' (2001)<ref>{{cite web |title=Never Change |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780743411325 |access-date=31 March 2026 }}</ref> *''Ordinary Life: stories'' (2002)<ref>{{cite web |title=Ordinary Life: Stories |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780679437468 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''True to Form'' (2002)<ref>{{cite web |title=True to Form|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780743411349 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Say When'' (2003)<ref>{{cite web |title=Say When|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780743411363 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Art of Mending'' (2004)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Art of Mending|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400061594 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Year of Pleasures'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Year of Pleasures|website=Publishers Weekly|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400061600|access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Handmaid and the Carpenter'' (2006)<ref>{{cite web|title=The Handmaid and the Carpenter |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400065387 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''We Are All Welcome Here'' (2006)<ref>{{cite web |title=We Are All Welcome Here |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400061617 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Dream When You're Feeling Blue'' (2007)<ref>{{cite web |title=Dream When You're Feeling Blue |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400065103 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted'' (2008)<ref>{{cite web|title=The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400065097 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Home Safe'' (2009)<ref>{{cite web |title=Home Safe|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400065110 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Last Time I Saw You'' (2010)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Last Time I Saw You|website=Publishers Weekly|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400068647|access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Once Upon a Time, There Was You'' (2011)<ref>{{cite web |title=Once Upon a Time, There Was You |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400068654 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Tapestry of Fortunes'' (2013)<ref>{{cite book |title=Tapestry of Fortunes |last=Berg|first=Elizabeth |publisher=Random House|year=2013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l-lM16GSd6UC |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Dream Lover'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Dream Lover |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780812993158 |access-date=31 March 2026 }}</ref> *''Make Someone Happy: Favorite Postings'' (2016)<ref>{{cite book |title=Make Someone Happy: Favorite Postings |last=Berg|first=Elizabeth |publisher=Random House|year=2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=80qUDAEACAAJ |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Story of Arthur Truluv'' (2017)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Story of Arthur Truluv |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781400069903 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Night of Miracles'' (2018)<ref>{{cite web |title=Night of Miracles|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780525509509 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''The Confession Club'' (2019)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Confession Club|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781984855176 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''I'll Be Seeing You: a Memoir'' (2020)<ref>{{cite web |title=I’ll Be Seeing You: A Memoir |website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593134672 |access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Earth's the Right Place for Love'' (2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Earth’s the Right Place for Love |website=Publishers Weekly|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593446799|access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> *''Life: A Love Story'' (2026)<ref>{{cite web |title=Life: A Love Story|website=Publishers Weekly |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593446829 |date=March 2024|access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{Official website|www.elizabeth-berg.net}} *[http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=2048 Author presentation] by publisher Random House, Inc. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102740/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writer.asp?cid=883100 Meet the Writers] from Barnes & Noble
* {{IMDb name|0073749}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Elizabeth}} Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American novelists Category:21st-century American novelists Category:University of Minnesota School of Nursing alumni Category:Novelists from Chicago Category:20th-century American women novelists Category:21st-century American women novelists