Jan Karon

Jan Karon (born October 6, 1937) is an American novelist best known for her series of "Mitford" novels. Karon grew up in Elon College, North Carolina, and attended high school in Burlington. She graduated from Elon College in 1955 and worked as a teacher in Virginia, North Carolina, and Japan. In 1976, she published her first novel, "In the Company of Others." The Mitford novels, which began with "At Home in Mitford" in 1994, are set in the fictional town of Mitford, North Carolina. The novels follow the lives of Father Tim Kavanagh, the town's Episcopal priest, and his friends and parishioners. The series has been praised for its heartwarming stories and its portrayal of small-town life. Karon has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award for Best Inspirational Novel and the Reader's Choice Award for Best Inspirational Fiction. Her novels have been translated into 30 languages and have sold over 25 million copies worldwide.