Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd (1868-1942) was an American author of around 10 novels, mostly written for young women. She was born in Iowa City to parents who were active in the abolitionist movement and began her professional career in New York as a writer and editor for the New York Sun, specializing in fashion writing. Her work appeared in numerous magazines including Collier's, The Girl's Own Paper, Ladies' Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post, most often in serial format, and her fiction was similar to the popular Pollyanna and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm series, featuring a young girl, often an orphan, who endeavours to improve the lives of adults through her pluck and daring. Three of her novels were made into silent films, including Pegeen (1920) which starred Bessie Love in the title role. The book itself was first published in 1915.