Kerry Madden is an accomplished author whose work spans multiple genres, including children's fiction, young adult literature, biographies, and writing guides. She is best known for her award-winning Maggie Valley Trilogy, which includes "Gentle's Holler," "Louisiana's Song," and "Jessie's Mountain," set in the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia. "Gentle's Holler" earned starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly, was featured as North Carolina's children's book at the 2008 National Book Festival, and was praised by Rosemary Wells for its authenticity. Her biography "Up Close: Harper Lee" was a Booklist and Kirkus Pick in 2009, while her picture book "Nothing Fancy About Kathryn & Charlie," illustrated by her daughter, Lucy Madden-Lunsford, led to a statewide library tour in Alabama.
Madden's writing career reflects her versatility, from her debut novel "Offsides," a New York Public Library Pick for Teens, to her instructional book "Writing Smarts," inspired by her workshops for young writers. Her works often explore themes of family, resilience, and regional identity, with a storytelling style noted for its warmth and authenticity. She has contributed to publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Salon, and her memoir-in-progress, "Carson, China, and a Marriage – Alphabetically," was featured at a Carson McCullers centenary event.
An educator as well as a writer, Madden has taught creative writing at institutions like UCLA and Ningbo University in China. She currently serves as an associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she directs the Creative Writing Program and edits the literary journal PMS (Poem Memoir Story). Her recent works include the picture book "Ernestine's Milky Way," praised for its classic storytelling, and the forthcoming middle-grade novel "Fifth Grade, Werewolves, Hamlet & Me." Madden divides her time between Birmingham and Los Angeles, balancing teaching with her ongoing literary projects.