Sharyn McCrumb


Sharyn McCrumb is an American writer whose books celebrate the history and folklore of Appalachia. McCrumb is the winner of numerous literary awards, and the author of the Elizabeth McPherson mystery series, the Ballad series, and the St. Dale series.

Early life

Sharyn McCrumb was born Sharyn Elaine Arwood on February 26, 1948, in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Career

McCrumb is an award-winning Southern writer, perhaps best known for her Appalachian "Ballad" novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Frankie Silver and She Walks These Hills, and for St. Dale, winner of a Library of Virginia Award and featured at the National Festival of the Book. The Devil Amongst the Lawyers deals with the regional stereotyping of rural areas by national journalists. The Ballad of Tom Dooley tells the true story behind the celebrated folk song. In 2008 McCrumb was named a Virginia Woman of History for Achievement in Literature. Educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a master's degree in English from Virginia Tech, McCrumb was the first writer-in-residence at King College in Tennessee. In 2005 she was honored as the Writer of the Year at Emory & Henry College.
Her novels, studied in universities throughout the world, have been translated into eleven languages, including French, German, Dutch, Japanese, Arabic, and Italian. She has lectured on her work at Oxford University, the University of Bonn-Germany, and at the Smithsonian Institution. McCrumb has also taught a writers workshop in Paris and served as writer-in-residence at King College in Tennessee and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
In 2008 McCrumb was honored as one of the Library of Virginia's "Virginia Women in History" for her career.

Novels

McCrumb is the author of The Ballad Novels, a series set in the Appalachian Mountains. These books weave together the legends, geography and contemporary issues of Appalachia, and each centers on an event from North Carolina history. She is also the author of the Elizabeth MacPherson mystery series, though her career has evolved beyond genre fiction. She no longer schedules programs or appearances related to crime fiction.

Ballad series

In 2005, NASCAR racing fan McCrumb wrote St. Dale. Her inspiration for the novel came from her study of medieval literature at Virginia Tech and her desire to update Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. It was Dale Earnhardt who became the saint of her tale, complete with the Dale Earnhardt Pilgrimage of fans.
These are satirical novels set in the world of science fiction conventions and fandom.
Winners are in bold
Awarding bodyYearAward issuedWork
National Daughters of the American Revolution2017Woman of the Arts Award
West Virginia Library Association2017Literary Merit Award
Clarksville Arts and Heritage Development Council2015Patricia Winn Award for Southern FictionKing's Mountain
Chowan University2014Mary Frances Hobson Prize for Southern Literature
Library of Virginia2008Virginia Woman in History Award
Library of Virginia2006People's Choice Award for FictionSt. Dale
Appalachian Writers Association2006Book of the YearSt. Dale
Appalachian Writers Association2005Best NovelSt. Dale
Appalachian Writers Association1992Best NovelThe Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
Appalachian Writers Association1985Best NovelLovely in Her Bones
Audio Publishers Association2004Best Recorded BookGhost Riders
East Tennessee State University2003Wilma Dykeman Award for LiteratureGhost Riders
Flora MacDonald Award1999Achievement in the Arts by a Woman of Scots Heritage
Shepard University and the WV Heritage Council1999Appalachian Heritage Writer's Award
Berea College1998Plattner Award for Best Appalachian Short StoryFoggy Mountain Breakdown
Morehead State University1998Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing
Appalachian Writers Association1997Outstanding Contribution to Appalachian Literature
Agatha Award1995Best NovelIf I'd Killed Him When I Met Him
Agatha Award1994Best NovelShe Walks These Hills
Agatha Award1992Best NovelThe Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
Agatha Award1992Best Short-story"Happiness is a Dead Poet"
Agatha Award1989Best Short-story"A Wee Doch and Doris"
Agatha Award1988Best NovelPaying the Piper
Anthony Award1995Best NovelShe Walks These Hills
Anthony Award1995Best Short-story"The Monster of Glamis"
Anthony Award1991Best NovelIf Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O
Anthony Award1991Best Short-story"The Luncheon"
Anthony Award1991Best Short-story"Remains to be Seen"
Anthony Award1990Best Short-story"A Wee Doch and Doris"
Anthony Award1989Best Paperback OriginalPaying the Piper
Anthony Award1988Best Paperback OriginalBimbos of the Death Sun
Edgar Award1988Best Paperback OriginalBimbos of the Death Sun
Sherwood Anderson Short Story Award1984Best Short Story"Precious Jewel"
Macavity Award1995Best NovelShe Walks These Hills
Macavity Award1991Best NovelIf Ever I Return Pretty Peggy-O
Nero Award1995Best NovelShe Walks These Hills