Adela Rogers St. Johns (n?e Adela Nora Rogers; May 20, 1894 ? August 10, 1988) was an American journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. She wrote a number of screenplays for silent movies and, late in life, appeared with other early twentieth-century figures as one of the 'witnesses' in Warren Beatty's Reds, but she is best remembered for her groundbreaking exploits as a "girl reporter" during the 1920s and 1930s.

The film, A Free Soul, was adapted by Becky Gardiner and John Meehan (dialogue continuity) from the 1928 play by Willard Mack, which in turn was based on the 1927 novel by Adela Rogers St. Johns.

There is no information about the novel available on Wikipedia at this time, but here is a link to the film entry.