Valerie V.M. Burns is a successful American author, best known for her cozy mystery and children's book series. Two of her most popular series are the Mystery Bookshop series and the A Dog Club Mystery series. Born and raised in the Midwestern United States, Burns currently resides in a warmer region of the country, where she lives with her two poodles, Kenzie and Chloe.
Burns has an impressive academic background, having earned a degree in Urban Studies and Political Science from Northwestern University and a Masters in Popular Fiction from the University of Notre Dame. After spending the majority of her childhood in Southwest Michigan, Burns eventually settled down in Tennessee in search of milder winters. She became a full-time author and began her writing career with the publication of her debut novel, "The Plot is Murder," which was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award in the category of "Best First Novel."
Burns is a member of several literary organizations, including International Thriller Awards, Mystery Writers-of-America, and Sisters in Crime. She is also a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA program at Seton Hill University. In addition to her work as a novelist, Burns is also an Edgar award-nominated short story author. She writes under the pen name V.M. Burns and has published several successful series, including the Next Generation Indie Finalist, RJ Franklin Mysteries, Dog Club Mysteries, and Agatha award-nominated, Mystery Bookshop Mysteries.