V. C. Andrews facts for kids

Quick facts for kids V. C. Andrews
Born	Cleo Virginia Andrews (1923-06-06)June 6, 1923 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Died	December 19, 1986(1986-12-19) (aged 63) Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation	Novelist
Genre	Gothic horror Family saga

Cleo Virginia Andrews (June 6, 1923 – December 19, 1986), known to her readers as V. C. Andrews, was a very popular American novelist. Her books are known for their exciting stories and unexpected twists.

About V. C. Andrews' Books

Andrews' novels often mix mystery with family stories. They usually involve big family secrets and characters who overcome tough challenges. A common theme is a "rags-to-riches" journey, where characters go from having nothing to becoming successful.

Her most famous book is Flowers in the Attic (1979). This story is about four children who are hidden away in an attic by their own mother. They are kept prisoner by their wealthy grandmother. The book became a huge bestseller very quickly.

V. C. Andrews' books were so popular that after she passed away, a writer named Andrew Neiderman was hired. He continued to write new novels using her name. This way, her stories could keep reaching her many fans. Her books have been translated into many languages around the world. This shows how popular her stories are globally.

The Life of V. C. Andrews

Virginia Andrews was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. She was the youngest of three children. Her mother was a telephone operator, and her father built tools.

When she was a teenager, Andrews had a serious fall at school. This led to back injuries and later, a type of arthritis. This condition meant she used crutches and a wheelchair for much of her life.

Despite her health challenges, Andrews was a talented artist. She took a four-year art course from home. She became a successful artist, drawing pictures for businesses and painting portraits. Her art helped support her family after her father died in 1957.

Later in life, Andrews started writing. Her first novel, Gods of Green Mountain, was a science fiction story. It wasn't published until after her death. In 1975, she finished a book called Flowers in the Attic. She wrote it very quickly, in just two weeks!

The publisher asked her to make the story more exciting. Andrews said she made the changes in a single night. When Flowers in the Attic was published in 1979, it became a bestseller in just two weeks. After that, she published a new novel every year until she died. Each new book brought her more readers and success.

Andrews passed away from breast cancer on December 19, 1986. After her death, Andrew Neiderman finished some of her unfinished stories. These included Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts.

V. C. Andrews' Books

V. C. Andrews wrote many books, and after her death, Andrew Neiderman continued writing under her name. Here are some of the popular series.

The Dollanganger Family Series

This was Andrews' first series. It was published between 1979 and 1987.

• Flowers in the Attic (1979)
• Petals on the Wind (1980)
• If There Be Thorns (1981)
• Seeds of Yesterday (1984)
• Garden of Shadows (1987) (finished by Andrew Neiderman)

The first two books, Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind, tell the story of the four Dollanganger children. Their lives change forever after their father dies. They are held prisoner in their grandparents' attic. Their mother hopes to win back her dying father's love. He must not know about the children.

Flowers in the Attic describes their time at Foxworth Hall and their escape. Petals on the Wind continues their story after they get out. It also shows how Cathy plans to get revenge on her mother.

The story then follows Cathy's sons, Jory and Bart, in If There Be Thorns. A mysterious new neighbor becomes friends with Bart. She slowly turns him against his parents. Seeds of Yesterday shows Foxworth Hall being rebuilt. Garden of Shadows is a prequel. It tells the story of the grandparents and how the children's parents met.

The Audrina Series

My Sweet Audrina was a stand-alone novel published during Andrews' lifetime. The story is set in the 1960s and 1970s. It takes place in a spooky Victorian mansion. The book talks about topics like bone disease and memory issues. A sequel was published much later by Andrew Neiderman.

• My Sweet Audrina (1982) by Virginia Andrews
• Whitefern (2016) by Andrew Neiderman

The Casteel Family Series

This series was started by Andrews and finished by Neiderman. It was published between 1985 and 1990. The five books follow a troubled family from West Virginia.

• Heaven (1985)
• Dark Angel (1986)
• Fallen Hearts (1988) (started by Andrews, finished by Neiderman)
• Gates of Paradise (1989) (by Andrew Neiderman)
• Web of Dreams (1990) (by Andrew Neiderman)

The story begins with Heaven, a poor young girl. Her mother died when she was born. Heaven has a difficult relationship with her father. He eventually sells Heaven and her siblings for money. Heaven later leaves to live with her grandfather. There, she learns secrets about her mother and her true father. Later books in the series focus on Heaven's daughter, Annie, and Heaven's mother, Leigh.

Other Popular Series by Andrew Neiderman

After V. C. Andrews' death, Andrew Neiderman continued her legacy. He wrote many more series under her name.

The Cutler Family Series

This series tells the story of the Cutler family over almost 80 years.

• Dawn (1990)
• Secrets of the Morning (1991)
• Twilight's Child (1992)
• Midnight Whispers (1992)
• Darkest Hour (1993)

The Landry Family Series

These novels are set in the Louisiana bayou. They follow Ruby Landry and her family.

• Ruby (1994)
• Pearl in the Mist (1994)
• All That Glitters (1995)
• Hidden Jewel (1995)
• Tarnished Gold (1996)

The Logan Family Series

This series follows Melody Logan from a West Virginia trailer park to Cape Cod. She helps her relatives with their hidden problems.

• Melody (1996)
• Heart Song (1997)
• Unfinished Symphony (1997)
• Music in the Night (1998)
• Olivia (1999)

The Orphans Miniseries

This series is about four teenage orphans: Janet, Crystal, Brooke, and Raven. They are sent to a foster home called Lakewood House.

• Butterfly (1998)
• Crystal (1998)
• Brooke (1998)
• Raven (1998)
• Runaways (1998)
• Orphans (2000) (all four mini-books together)

The Wildflowers Miniseries

This series is about a group of girls who are in court-ordered group therapy. The books explain why they are there.

• Misty (1999)
• Star (1999)
• Jade (1999)
• Cat (1999)
• Into the Garden (1999)
• The Wildflowers (2001) (all four mini-books together)

The Hudson Family Series

This series tells the story of Rain Arnold Hudson. She was born from an interracial relationship.

• Rain (2000)
• Lightning Strikes (2000)
• Eye of the Storm (2000)
• The End of the Rainbow (2001)
• Gathering Clouds (2007)

The Shooting Stars Series

This series tells the stories of four girls with different backgrounds and talents. They meet at an arts school in New York.

• Cinnamon (2001)
• Ice (2001)
• Rose (2001)
• Honey (2001)
• Falling Stars (2001)
• Shooting Stars (2002) (all four mini-books together)

The De Beers Family Series

This series follows Willow De Beers. She discovers her real mother was a patient of her father's.

• Willow (2002)
• Wicked Forest (2002)
• Twisted Roots (2002)
• Into the Woods (2003)
• Hidden Leaves (2003)
• Dark Seed (2001) (e-book)

The Broken Wings Series

This series follows three troubled teenage girls: Robin Taylor, Teal Sommers, and Phoebe Elder. They are sent to a special school for girls.

• Broken Wings (2003)
• Midnight Flight (2003)

The Gemini Series

This series follows Celeste. She is forced to pretend to be her dead twin brother by her mother.

• Celeste (2004)
• Black Cat (2004)
• Child of Darkness (2005)

The Shadows Series

This series is about a teenage girl named April Taylor. She is not popular or very talented.

• April Shadows (2005)
• Girl in the Shadows (2006)

The Early Spring Series

This series features a younger main character, Jordan March, who starts at age 6.

• Broken Flower (2006)
• Scattered Leaves (2007)

The Secrets Series

This series is about two small-town girls, a murder, and a special attic.

• Secrets in the Attic (2007)
• Secrets in the Shadows (2008)

The Delia Series

This series is about a young Latina girl named Delia. Her parents died in an accident. She has to learn to fit in with her wealthy Mexican-American aunt's family.

• Delia's Crossing (September 2008)
• Delia's Heart (December 2008)
• Delia's Gift (February 2009)

The Heavenstone Series

• Heavenstone Secrets (2009)
• Secret Whispers (March 2010)

The Kindred Series

• Daughter of Darkness (2010)
• Daughter of Light (2012)

The March Family Series

• Family Storms (2011)
• Cloudburst (2011)

The Forbidden Series

• The Forbidden Sister (2013)
• The Forbidden Heart [e-book] (2013)
• Roxy's Story (2013)

The Diary Series

• Christopher's Diary: Secrets of Foxworth (2014)
• Christopher's Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger (2015)
• Secret Brother (2015)

The Mirror Sisters Series

• The Mirror Sisters (2016)
• Broken Glass (2017)
• Shattered Memories (2017)

The Girls of Spindrift Series

This series is a spin-off from Bittersweet Dreams.

• Corliss (2017)
• Donna (2017)
• Mayfair (2018)
• Spindrift (2018)

The House of Secrets Series

• House of Secrets (2018)
• Echoes in the Walls (2018)
• Whispering Hearts (2020)

The Attic Series

This series is set before the Dollanganger series. It follows the first Corrine and her marriage.

• Beneath the Attic (2019)
• Out of the Attic (2020)
• Shadows of Foxworth (2020)

The Umbrella Series

• The Umbrella Lady (2021)
• Out of the Rain (2021)

The Eden Series

• Eden's Children (October 25, 2022)
• Little Paula (February 7, 2023)

Other Books by Andrew Neiderman

Andrew Neiderman has also written other books that are not part of the V. C. Andrews series.

• Into the Darkness (2012)
• Capturing Angels (2012)
• The Unwelcomed Child (2014)
• Bittersweet Dreams (2015)
• Sage's Eyes (2016)
• The Silhouette Girl (2019)
• Becoming My Sister (2022)

Short Stories by Andrew Neiderman

These short stories were inspired by Andrews' artwork.

• Cage of Love (2001)
• The Little Psychic (2001)

Movies and TV Shows

Many of V. C. Andrews' books have been made into movies and TV shows.

Film Adaptations

• Flowers in the Attic (1987)
• Rain (2006) (based on a novel by Neiderman)

Television Adaptations

The Lifetime TV network has made many adaptations of V. C. Andrews' work.

The Dollanganger Family Series

• Flowers in the Attic (2014)
• Petals on the Wind (2014)
• If There Be Thorns (2015)
• Seeds of Yesterday (2015)
• Flowers in the Attic: The Origin (2022) (a four-part series based on Garden of Shadows)

The Casteel Family Series

• Heaven (2019)
• Dark Angel (2019)
• Fallen Hearts (2019)
• Gates of Paradise (2019)
• Web of Dreams (2019)

The Landry Family Series

• Ruby (2021)
• Pearl in the Mist (2021)
• All That Glitters (2021)
• Hidden Jewel (2021)

The Cutler Family Series

• Dawn (To Be Announced)
• Secrets of the Morning (To Be Announced)
• Twilight's Child (To Be Announced)
• Midnight Whispers (To Be Announced)

Stand-alone Movies

• My Sweet Audrina (2016)

See also

In Spanish: V. C. Andrews para niños