Elward, James. Public smiles, private tears.

James Elward was a playwright and author born in 1928 and based in New York City. He was most noted for writing soap operas in the 1960s and 1970s such as "The Secret Storm," "The Guiding Light," and "Dr. Kildare." He also wrote and produced a soap opera called "The Young Marrieds." Additionally, he wrote several plays for theaters in New York and London. He was active in summer stock with the Barnstormers in Tamworth, New Hampshire. He published three novels for Doubleday under the name of Rebecca James: "Storm's End" (1974), "The House Is Dark" (1976), and "Tomorrow Is Mine" (1979). He also published under his own name, including "Ask For Nothing More" (1984), "Monday's Child Is Dead" (1995), and "Public Smiles, Private Tears" (1982) with Helen Van Slyke. In 1991 he helped to organize Mystery Stage, Inc. a group that worked to foster stage performances in the mystery genre in New York City. He died in 1996.

From the guide to the James Elward papers, 1938-1996, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)