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Kerry Madden

Goodreads Author

Born

in DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, The United States

Website

http://www.kerrymadden.com

Twitter

kerrymadden

Genre

Children's Books, Literature & Fiction, Nonfiction

Influences

Flannery O'Connor, Harper Lee, Betty Smith, Lee Smith...it goes on and ...more

Member Since

May 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/wwwkerrymaddencom

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Kerry Madden writes under both Kerry Madden and Kerry Madden-Lunsford. She has written plays, screenplays, journalism (Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Birmingham News, Salon, Southern Women's Review, Shenandoah, Carve Magazine, and Sierra Club Magazine), and published seven books including OFFSIDES, a New York Library Pick for 1997, and now just out as an ebook with FOREVERLAND PRESS.

Her book, WRITING SMARTS, was inspired by the writing workshops she's led with young writers for years and is a guide to sparking stories for kids ( American Girl Company.)

In 2005 she turned her hand to children's fiction with GENTLE'S HOLLER, the first installment in what became the award-winning Maggie Valley Trilogy set in the Smoky Mountains of Appala Kerry Madden writes under both Kerry Madden and Kerry Madden-Lunsford. She has written plays, screenplays, journalism (Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Birmingham News, Salon, Southern Women's Review, Shenandoah, Carve Magazine, and Sierra Club Magazine), and published seven books including OFFSIDES, a New York Library Pick for 1997, and now just out as an ebook with FOREVERLAND PRESS.

Her book, WRITING SMARTS, was inspired by the writing workshops she's led with young writers for years and is a guide to sparking stories for kids ( American Girl Company.)

In 2005 she turned her hand to children's fiction with GENTLE'S HOLLER, the first installment in what became the award-winning Maggie Valley Trilogy set in the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia. It earned starred reviews in both Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly, was included in the New York and the Chicago Public Libraries' best books for 2005, and was the featured children's book of North Carolina at the National Book Festival in 2008.

"It is the genuine article," wrote Rosemary Wells of GENTLE'S HOLLER. "Its heroine is as bone-real and endearing as Opal in Because of Winn Dixie."

The next book in the trilogy, LOUISIANA'S SONG (2007) was equally well received, being named a Bank Street College Book of the Year and a finalist for several other awards.

The third book, JESSIE'S MOUNTAIN, was published in 2008 to strong reviews.

Her biography of Harper Lee, published in Viking's UpClose Series, was a Booklist and Kirkus Pick of 2009.

Her picture book, NOTHING FANCY ABOUT KATHRYN & CHARLIE, illustrated by her daughter, Lucy Madden-Lunsford was published by Mockingbird Publishers, and in the summer of 2013, Kerry and Lucy went on a book tour to rural Alabama libraries to do art and writing workshops with children across the state.

Kerry received B.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of Tennessee and has been honored as a Tennessee Williams Scholar and a Walter E. Dakin Fellow at the Sewanee Writers' Conference. She has taught creative writing at Ningbo University in China, UCLA, and has visited schools across the country as a guest author doing writing workshops for young authors. She is an associate professor of creative writing at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and editor of PMS, Poem Memoir Short Story, at UAB.

Her new book, FIFTH GRADE, WEREWOLVES, HAMLET & ME is out with publishers for consideration, and she is at work on a new novel, HOP THE POND, drawing from her time in Manchester, England as an exchange student. ...more

2307 posts
Kerry Madden's Blog

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Tue, 14:47 : RT @bshelburne: One of Alabama's "biggest moral failings," @JohnArchibald on routine extortion of families with loved ones locked up in @AL… Tue, 14:49 : RT @BrettZongker: Just Announced: U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón is appointed for a historic 2-year second term. She's got BIG collaborations… Tue, 15:04 : RT @TVSanjeev: RIP Harry Belafonte. Trailblazer. https://t.co/bo9am5xR Read more of this blog post »

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Published on April 26, 2023 12:00

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Kerry Madden’s books

Average rating: 4.03 · 822 ratings · 119 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	Gentle's Holler 3.99 avg rating — 420 ratings — published 2005 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Louisiana's Song 4.14 avg rating — 146 ratings — published 2007 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jessie's Mountain by Kerry Madden (Goodreads Author), Kerry Madden-Lunsford 4.04 avg rating — 98 ratings — published 2008 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Writing Smarts: A Girl's Guide to Writing Great Poetry, Stories, School Reports, and More! by Kerry Madden (Goodreads Author), Tracy McGuinness (Illustrator) 3.79 avg rating — 78 ratings — published 2002 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Offsides: A Novel by Kerry Madden (Goodreads Author), Kerry Madden-Lunsford 4.31 avg rating — 32 ratings — published 1996 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nothing Fancy about Kathryn & Charlie by Kerry Madden (Goodreads Author), Lucy Madden-Lunsford (Illustrations) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	PMS poemmemoirstory 2016 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	PMS Poemmemoirstory 2014 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	PoemMemoirStory (PMS Book 2017) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Offsides by Kerry Madden-Lunsford (2014-08-27) by Kerry Madden (Goodreads Author), Unknown Author it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Series by Kerry Madden

Maggie Valley (3 books)
by

Kerry Madden (Goodreads Author)

4.03 avg rating — 664 ratings

Kerry is Currently Reading

Kerry is currently reading

Daisy and the Pirates (Daisy Tannenbaum, #1)

by J.T. Allen (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 15, 2017 12:38PM

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Kerry’s Recent Updates

Kerry rated a book it was amazing The Lightning People Play by Tim Cummings (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 26, 2025 01:07PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Lightning People Play by Tim Cummings. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Lightning People Play by Tim Cummings <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kerry and 6 other people liked Tim Cummings's review of The Lightning People Play: "Introducing my second novel, THE LIGHTNING PEOPLE PLAY. I specifically chose today, because March 26th is PURPLE DAY, dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. When his younger brother Baxter starts having seizures and receives visi" Read more of this review »
Jun 26, 2025 01:07PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Lightning People Play by Tim Cummings. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Lightning People Play by Tim Cummings <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kerry liked Lizzy's review of Werewolf Hamlet: "A moving, complex story with lots of humor and creativity. The characters are so lovable and it’s impossible not to love Angus. There’s also a great sense of time and place."
Jun 01, 2025 08:26AM · see review
Kerry liked Judith Teitelman's review of Werewolf Hamlet: "Kerry Madden-Lunsford’s “Werewolf Hamlet” is a tale overflowing with heart, compassion, and deep insights. Intended for YA, it fully enraptured this “adult.” The story realistically—at times painfully—captures the challenges of being 10 years old, 5t" Read more of this review »
Jun 01, 2025 08:26AM · see review
Kerry is now following Kerry Madden-Lunsford Author of Ernestine's Milky Way
Jun 01, 2025 08:24AM · like
Kerry rated a book it was amazing Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I love this book, BEA MULLINS TAKES A SHOT. I wish I’d had it when I was a teenager. It’s one of those wonderful novels you lose yourself in on a rainy afternoon, and then you can’t put it down. It’s a smart and funny story of friendship, crushes, ho ...more
Apr 22, 2025 02:04PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kerry rated a book it was amazing Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I love this book, BEA MULLINS TAKES A SHOT. I wish I’d had it when I was a teenager. It’s one of those wonderful novels you lose yourself in on a rainy afternoon, and then you can’t put it down. It’s a smart and funny story of friendship, crushes, ho ...more
Mar 24, 2025 06:52AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kerry is now following Emily Deibert and Elaine
Mar 24, 2025 06:51AM
Kerry wants to read The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 07, 2024 08:44PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Around the World ...: North Carolina	8	165	Nov 29, 2012 11:33AM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Realistic Teen/YA fiction. Girl who lives in/near mountains and writes or sings songs. [s]	4	22	Jun 27, 2024 09:03AM

Kerry’s Quotes

“Smugness is the Great Catholic Sin.”
― Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor

tags: catholicism, pride, sin, smugness

18 likes

“All you need is already within you, only you must approach your self with reverence and love. Self-condemnation and self-distrust are grievous errors. Your constant flight from pain and search for pleasure is a sign of love you bear for your self, all I plead with you is this: make love of your self perfect. Deny yourself nothing -- glue your self infinity and eternity and discover that you do not need them; you are beyond.”
― Nisargadatta Maharaj

86 likes