Romance writer and Iowa native Janet Dailey has died at the age of 69. Dailey was born in Storm Lake in 1944 and grew up in Iowa, graduating from high school in Independence. She began her writing career in 1974 while living in Council Bluffs before later moving in 1978 to Branson, Missouri.

Dailey wrote over 155 works including her “Americana” series of 50 novels, one set in each state. Her books sold more than 325 million copies worldwide, with her latest work, “Merry Christmas, Cowboy” published earlier this year.  Dailey died in Branson Saturday of complications from a recent aneurysm.

(Reporting by Joel Herman, KAYL,Storm Lake)