Mary Francis Shura Craig, née Young (23 February 1923 in Pratt, Kansas – 12 January 1991 in Maywood, Illinois) was an American writer of over 50 novels from 1960 to 1990. She wrote children's adventures and young adult romances as Mary Francis Shura, M. F. Craig, and Meredith Hill; gothic novels as Mary Craig; romance novels as Alexis Hill, Mary Shura Craig and Mary S. Craig; and suspense novels as M. S. Craig. She was a recipient of the Carl Sandburg Literary Arts Award in 1985, and was elected president of the Mystery Writers of America in 1990. Biography Mary Francis Young was born on 23 February 1923 in Pratt, Kansas, the daughter of Jackson Fant and Mary Francis (Milstead) Young. She studied at Maryville State College. Her family moved to the Pacific Northwest. On 24 October 1943, she married Daniel Charles Shura, who died in 1959. They had three children: Marianne Francis Shura (Sprague), Daniel Charles Shura, and Alice Barrett Shura Craig (Stout). On 8 December 1961, she married Raymond C. Craig. They had a daughter Mary Forshay Craig (Shay Craig) before their divorce. On 12 January 1991, she died of injuries suffered in a fire in her apartment on 13 December 1990. Bibliography Some of her novels were republished under different titles As Mary Francis Shura Children's literature Single novels Simple Spigott (1960); Publisher: New York, Alferd A. Knopf. The garret of Greta McGraw (1961); Publisher: New York, Knopf. Mary's marvelous mouse (1962); Adrienne Adams; Publisher: New York, Knopf. The nearsighted knight (1964); Publisher: New York, Knopf. Shoefull of shamrock (1965); Publisher: New York : Atheneum. Run away home (1965) A tale of middle length (1966); Publisher: New York, Atheneum. Backwards for luck (1966) Pornada (1968) The valley of the frost giants (1971) The seven stone (1972) aka Maggie in the middle; Dale Payson; Publisher: New York : Scholastic Book Services. The shop on Threnody Street (1972) Topcat of Tam (1972) aka Top Cat The riddle of Raven's Gulch (1975) aka The riddle of Raven Hollow; Publisher: New York : Dodd, Mead. The season of silence (1976); Ruth Sanderson; Publisher: New York : Atheneum. The gray ghosts of Taylor Ridge (1978); Michael A Hampshire; Publisher: New York : Dodd, Mead. The Barkley Street six-pack (1979) aka My Friend Natalie aka Some Kind of Friend; Gene Sparkman; Publisher: New York : Dodd, Mead. Mister Wolf and me (1979); Konrad