March Into Romance: New Releases to Fall in Love With!
Jan Karon
Jan Karon, born Janice Meredith Wilson in the foothills of
North Carolina, was named after the title of a popular
novel, Janice Meredith.
Jan wrote her first novel at the age of ten. "The
manuscript was written on Blue Horse notebook paper, and
was, for good reason, kept hidden from my sister. When she
found it, she discovered the one curse word I had, with
pounding heart, included in someone's speech. For Pete's
sake, hadn't Rhett Butler used that very same word and
gotten away with it? After my grandmother's exceedingly
focused reproof, I've written books without cussin' ever
since."
Several years ago, Karon left a successful career in
advertising to move to the mountain village of Blowing
Rock, North Carolina, and write books. "I stepped out on
faith to follow my lifelong dream of being an author," she
says. "I made real sacrifices and took big risks. But
living, it seems to me, is largely about risk."
Enthusiastic booksellers across the country have introduced
readers of all ages to Karon's heartwarming books. At Home
in Mitford, Karon's first book in the Mitford series, was
nominated for an ABBY by the American Booksellers
Association in 1996, 1997, and again in 1998. Bookstore
owner, Shirley Sprinkle, says, "The Mitford Books have been
our all-time fiction bestsellers since we went in business
twenty-five years ago. We've sold many, many thousands of
Jan's books and don't see any end to the Mitford
phenomenon."