 Sharyn McCrumb was born Sharyn Elaine Arwood on February 26, 1948, in Wilmington, North Carolina.McCrumb is an award-winning Southern writer, perhaps best known for her Appalachian "Ballad" novels, including the "New York Times" best sellers "The Ballad of Frankie Silver" and "She Walks These Hills", and for "St. Dale", winner of a Library of Virginia Award and featured at the National Festival of the Book.