who wrote imitation of life

The novel Imitation of Life was written by Fannie Hurst and first published in 1933.

The 1934 film Imitation of Life is adapted from Hurst’s novel and credits William Hurlbut as the primary screenwriter, with several uncredited contributors, but the underlying story and characters come from Hurst’s book.

If you instead meant the song “Imitation of Life” by R.E.M., that was written by band members Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe.