VIOLA SHIPMAN

I am beyond happy and humbled that my novels have resonated with readers all around the world.

My novels are a tribute to my Ozarks grandma, Viola Shipman, whose heirlooms, life, lessons and love not only inspire my fiction but also inspired me to become a writer and the person I am today. My grandparents were working poor but – as I realized when I grew up – actually the richest people I’d ever known. I chose my grandmother’s name as a pen name because it was the smallest thank-you I could give to her – and all my elders – for all they gave to me. And I’m honored that readers will be saying her name for years to come.

All of my grandparents taught me that the simplest things in life – family, friends, faith, fun, love, and a passion for what you do – are truly the greatest gifts. My fiction is meant to honor the elders in our lives whose sacrifices and journeys helped make us who we are today. My books are meant to remind readers to slow down and remember what matters most in life. More than anything, my books are meant to provide hope – something we need more than ever these days. I couldn’t be prouder of my novels, which I hope reconnect you to your own family’s stories, heirlooms, histories and traditions.