Carolyn Haines

Carolyn Haines is a successful American author, born on May 12, 1953, in Lucedale, Mississippi. She is known for her mystery and romance novels, and often writes under the pen names Caroline Burnes and Lizzie Hart. Having written over 70 books, Haines has made a significant contribution to the literary world. She was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame in 2020, in recognition of her exceptional work.

Haines grew up with big dreams of being a cowgirl, a writer, and Nancy Drew. Today, she is all three, with the added experience of being a journalist for over a decade. Her work as a photojournalist took her to Parchman State Prison, where she covered a newspaper story, an experience that would later inspire her writing. Haines' work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence in 2009, the Harper Lee Award for Alabama's Distinguished Writer of 2010, and the "Best Amateur Sleuth" award by Romantic Times.

In addition to her writing, Haines is an animal activist who works to educate the public on spaying and neutering their animals. She lives on a farm in Alabama, surrounded by a menagerie of animals, including dogs, cats, and horses. Haines' love for animals is reflected in her work, with many of her novels featuring animals in important roles.

Haines' main series are Fear Familiar and Sarah Booth Delaney, both set in the Mississippi Delta. The Sarah Booth Delaney series has gained significant popularity, with Sarah Booth and her friends solving mysteries in the small town of Zinnia, Mississippi. Haines' personal experiences as a journalist and her love for mysteries have come together to create a captivating series that keeps readers engaged.