Sharyn McCrumb

Sharyn McCrumb
Sharyn McCrumb c. 1997
Born	Sharyn Elaine Arwood (1948-02-26) February 26, 1948 (age 77) Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.
Education	Master's degree
Alma mater	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Virginia Tech
Notable works	Ballad series Elizabeth MacPherson series
Notable awards	See list

Sharyn McCrumb (born February 26, 1948) ^[1] is an American writer best known for books that celebrate the history and folklore of Appalachia. McCrumb is the winner of numerous literary awards ^[2] , and is the author of the best selling "Ballad" novels, set in the North Carolina/Tennessee mountains; the NASCAR series featuring St. Dale; and the Elizabeth McPherson mystery series.

Early life

Sharyn McCrumb was born Sharyn Elaine Arwood on February 26, 1948, in Wilmington, North Carolina. ^[3]

Career

McCrumb is a 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 (2010) deals with the regional stereotyping of rural areas by national journalists. The Ballad of Tom Dooley (2011) 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. ^[4]

In 2008 McCrumb was honored as one of the Library of Virginia's "Virginia Women in History" for her career. ^[5]

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. ^{[6] [7]} She is also the author of the Elizabeth MacPherson mystery series, though her career has evolved beyond genre fiction. ^[8]

Ballad series

• McCrumb, Sharyn (1990). If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O. Scribner. ISBN   978-0-684-19104-1.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1992). The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. Scribner. ISBN   0-684-19407-4.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1994). She Walks These Hills. Scribner's. ISBN   0-684-19556-9.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1996). The Rosewood Casket. Dutton. ISBN   0-525-94011-1.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1998). The Ballad of Frankie Silver . Dutton. ISBN   978-0-340-71714-1.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2001). The Songcatcher. Dutton. ISBN   0-525-94488-5.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2003). Ghost Riders. Dutton Adult. ISBN   0-525-94718-3.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2010). The Devil Amongst the Lawyers. Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN   978-0-312-55816-1.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2011). The Ballad of Tom Dooley: A Novel (Appalachian Ballad). Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN   978-0-312-55817-8.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2013). King's Mountain. Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN   978-1-250-011404
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2014). Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past. Abingdon Press. ISBN   9781426754210
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2016). Prayers the Devil Answers. Atria Books. ISBN   9781476772813
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2017). The Unquiet Grave. Atria Books. ISBN   9781476772875

St. Dale novels

In 2005, NASCAR racing fan McCrumb wrote St. Dale. ^[9] 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. ^[10]

• McCrumb, Sharyn (2005). St. Dale. Kensington. ISBN   0-7582-0776-X.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2007). Once Around the Track. Kensington. ISBN   978-0-7582-0778-4.
• McCrumb, Sharyn; Edwards, Adam (2010). Faster Pastor. Ingalls Publishing Group. ISBN   978-1-932158-88-5.

Elizabeth MacPherson novels

• McCrumb, Sharyn (1984). Sick of Shadows. Avon Books. ISBN   978-0-380-87189-6.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1985). Lovely in Her Bones. Avon Books. ISBN   978-0-380-89592-2.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1986). Highland Laddie Gone. Avon Books. ISBN   978-0-380-89910-4.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1988). Paying the Piper. Ballantine Books. ISBN   0-345-34518-5.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1990). The Windsor Knot. Ballantine Books. ISBN   0-345-36583-6.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1991). Missing Susan. Ballantine Books. ISBN   0-345-36575-5.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1992). MacPherson's Lament. Ballantine Books. ISBN   978-0-345-36576-7.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1995). If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him. Ballantine Books. ISBN   978-0-345-38229-0.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (2000). The PMS Outlaws. Wheeler Publishing. ISBN   978-1-56895-935-1.

Jay Omega novels

These are satirical novels set in the world of science fiction conventions and fandom.

• McCrumb, Sharyn (1988). Bimbos of the Death Sun. TSR. ISBN   0-88038-455-7.
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1992). Zombies of the Gene Pool. Simon & Schuster. ISBN   0-671-70526-1.

Short story collections

• McCrumb, Sharyn (1985). Our Separate Days. (Co-author: Mona Walton Helper)
• McCrumb, Sharyn (1997). Foggy Mountain Breakdown and Other Stories. Ballantine Books. ISBN   0-345-41493-4.

Awards

Winners are in bold

Awarding body	Year	Award issued	Work
National Daughters of the American Revolution [11]	2017	Woman of the Arts Award
West Virginia Library Association [12]	2017	Literary Merit Award
Clarksville Arts and Heritage Development Council [13]	2015	Patricia Winn Award for Southern Fiction	King's Mountain
Chowan University [14]	2014	Mary Frances Hobson Prize for Southern Literature
Library of Virginia [15] [16]	2008	Virginia Woman in History Award
	2006	People's Choice Award for Fiction	St. Dale
Appalachian Writers Association [17] [18] [19] [20]	2006	Book of the Year	St. Dale
	2005	Best Novel	St. Dale
	1992	Best Novel	The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
	1985	Best Novel	Lovely in Her Bones
Audio Publishers Association [21]	2004	Best Recorded Book	Ghost Riders
East Tennessee State University [22]	2003	Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature	Ghost Riders
Flora MacDonald Award [22]	1999	Achievement in the Arts by a Woman of Scots Heritage
Shepard University and the WV Heritage Council [23]	1999	Appalachian Heritage Writer's Award
Berea College [24]	1998	Plattner Award for Best Appalachian Short Story	Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Morehead State University [25]	1998	Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing
Appalachian Writers Association [22]	1997	Outstanding Contribution to Appalachian Literature
Agatha Award [26]	1995	Best Novel	If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him
	1994	Best Novel	She Walks These Hills
	1992	Best Novel	The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
		Best Short-story	"Happiness is a Dead Poet"
	1989	Best Short-story	"A Wee Doch and Doris"
	1988	Best Novel	Paying the Piper
Anthony Award [27]	1995	Best Novel	She Walks These Hills
		Best Short-story	"The Monster of Glamis"
	1991	Best Novel	If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O
		Best Short-story	"The Luncheon"
			"Remains to be Seen"
	1990	Best Short-story	"A Wee Doch and Doris"
	1989	Best Paperback Original	Paying the Piper
	1988	Best Paperback Original	Bimbos of the Death Sun
Edgar Award [28]	1988	Best Paperback Original	Bimbos of the Death Sun
Sherwood Anderson Short Story Award [29]	1984	Best Short Story	"Precious Jewel"
Macavity Award [30]	1995	Best Novel	She Walks These Hills
	1991	Best Novel	If Ever I Return Pretty Peggy-O
Nero Award [31]	1995	Best Novel	She Walks These Hills

References

1. "Sharyn McCrumb." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Gale Biography In Context. Web. May 13, 2011.
2. "Sharyn McCrumb." Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors, Gale, 2017. Gale In Context: Biography, link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1000127955/BIC?u=nclivewicc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=e6fca62c. Accessed 5 June 2025.
3. Williams, Wilda (November 15, 2004). "Q&A: Sharyn McCrumb". Library Journal . Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
4. Critical Study of Sharyn McCrumb's Novels. Holloway, Kimberly, ed. From a Race of Story Tellers: Critical Essays on The Ballad Novels of Sharyn McCrumb. Atlanta: Mercer University Press, 2003.
5. "Virginia Women in History: Sharyn McCrumb (1948-)". Library of Virginia. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
6. "Sharyn McCrumb". Southernscribe.com. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
7. "Sharyn McCrumb | Authors | Macmillan". Us.macmillan.com. December 4, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
8. Blakesley, Elizabeth (2007). Great women mystery writers (2nd ed.). Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. ISBN   9780313334283. OCLC   191847059.
9. "Sharyn McCrumb". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
10. "Sharyn McCrumb gives the 3rd degree to NASCAR". The Roanoke Times. January 30, 2005. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
11. "Annual Virginia DAR Meeting | New Castle Record". newcastlerecord.com. July 25, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
12. "West Virginia Library Association". facebook.com. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
13. "New York Times bestselling author Sharyn McCrumb to receive Patricia Winn Award for Southern Fiction at Clarksville Writers Conference banquet June 4th - Clarksville, TN Online". Clarksville, TN Online. May 22, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
14. "Hobson Lecture & Prize". Chowan.edu. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
15. "Finalists and Winners of the Library of Virginia Annual Literary Awards". lva.virginia.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
16. "Virginia Women in History 2008 Honoree Information". lva.virginia.gov. June 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
17. "News of the Appalachian Literary Arts". Appalachian Heritage. 34 (4): 7. January 8, 2014. doi:10.1353/aph.2006.0122. ISSN   1940-5081.
18. Fiore, Charles. "Spring Conference 2009 (Greensboro)". ncwriters.org. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
19. "Virginia Women in History 2008 Honoree Information". lva.virginia.gov. June 30, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
20. "King University: Bestselling Author Sharyn McCrumb to Speak Oct. 7 at King University During QEP Week". king.edu. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
21. "2004 Audie Awards® - APA". audiopub.org. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
22. The rose & the briar : death, love and liberty in the American ballad. Wilentz, Sean., Marcus, Greil. (1st ed.). New York: W.W. Norton. 2005. ISBN   9780393059540. OCLC   55744543.
23. "The Appalachian Heritage Writer's Award". Appalink. 28 (2): 3. Spring 2005 – via Marshall Digital Scholar.
24. Miller, Danny (January 8, 2014). "The 1997 Denny C. Plattner Appalachian Heritage Awards". Appalachian Heritage. 26 (1): 5. doi:10.1353/aph.1998.0040. ISSN   1940-5081. S2CID   150775389.
25. "Morehead State University :: Chaffin Award". moreheadstate.edu. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
26. "Malice Domestic Convention - Bethesda, MD". Malicedomestic.org. August 23, 1988. Archived from the original on April 12, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
27. "Bouchercon World Mystery Convention : Anthony Awards Nominees". Bouchercon.info. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
28. "Best Paperback Original Mystery Novel Edgar Award Winners and Nominees - Complete Lists". Mysterynet.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
29. Modlin, Charles E.; Campbell, Hilbert H., eds. (1987). Stories From Sherwood Anderson Country; Contest Winners 1976-1986 (First ed.). Sherwood Anderson Association.
30. "Mystery Readers International's Macavity Awards". Mysteryreaders.org. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
31. "Wolfe Pack Nero Award Recipients chronologically". Nerowolfe.org. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2012.

External links

• Official website
• McCrumb's biography at the Library of Virginia
• Excerpts from “Keepers of the Legend: An Essay on the Influences of Family Legends and Folklore on Fiction” By Sharyn McCrumb at the Library of Virginia