Sheila Kay Adams is a celebrated author, musician, and storyteller rooted in the Appalachian traditions of Madison County, North Carolina. Her writing career emerged from a deep connection to her family's heritage, particularly the ballads and stories passed down through generations. Her first book, "Come Go Home With Me," a collection of autobiographical stories, won the North Carolina Historical Society’s award for historical fiction in 1997. She later gained wider acclaim with her novel "My Old True Love," a fictionalized account of a true family story, which was a finalist for both the Southeastern Booksellers Association’s and the Appalachian Writers Association’s Book of the Year Awards in 2004.
Adams’s work is deeply intertwined with her musical background and Appalachian upbringing. She performs traditional ballads with the same intensity and authenticity as her ancestors, and her storytelling reflects the rich oral traditions of her community. Her writing often explores themes of family, love, and the rugged beauty of mountain life, earning praise for its vivid characters and evocative settings. Beyond her books, she has released several albums, including "All the Other Fine Things," a companion to "My Old True Love," and a live anthology from the International Storytelling Festival.
A respected figure in folklore and traditional music, Adams has received numerous accolades, including the North Carolina Folklore Society’s Brown-Hudson Award in 1998. After teaching in public schools for 17 years, she dedicated herself to preserving Appalachian culture through writing, music, and performance. She continues to reside in her native Madison County with her husband, musician Jim Taylor, passing on her family’s traditions to future generations.