Robbie Branscum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Robbie Branscum | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robbie Nell Tilley June 17, 1937 Big Flat, Arkansas |
| Died | May 24, 1997 (aged 59). San Pablo, California |
| Occupation | author, farmworker |
| Nationality | American |
| Writing period | 1971-1991 |
| Genres | children's literature young adult fiction |
| Notable award(s) | Edgar Award, Friends of American Writers Award, PEN Award |
| Spouse(s) | Dwane Branscum |
| Children | Deborah Branscum |
Robbie Nell Tilley Branscum (June 17, 1937 — May 24, 1997) was an American writer of children's books and young adult fiction. Her books were awarded with a Friends of American Writers Award (1977) and the Edgar Award (1983).[1]
Robbie was born on a farm near Big Flat, Arkansas. Her father died when she was only 4 years old and she grew up with her poor grandparents on another farm. Branscum dropped out from school after the seventh-grade. She continued to read books and write poetry and songs.[2] At the age of 15 she married, but got divorced at the age of 25.[3] She provided for her livelihood through work at dirt farms.[1]
Her life took a major turn, after the newsletter of her church, the Southern Baptist, printed an article she had written. Subsequently she decided to become an author. Her first book was Me and Jim Luke (1971). Branscum published 20 books in 20 years. She worked with the New York-based Dutch-American literary agent Barthold Fles.[4] Branscum died from a heart attack in 1997 in her home in San Pablo, California.[1]
[edit] Books
- 1971 - Me and Jim Luke
- 1975 - Three Wars of Billy Joe Treat
- 1976 - Johnny May
- 1977 - Toby, Granny and George
- 1978 - Three Buckets of Daylight (with Allen Davis)
- 1978 - To the Tune of a Hickory Stick
- 1978 - The Ugliest Boy
- 1979 - For Love of Jody (with Allen Davis)
- 1979 - The Saving of P.S.
- 1979 - Toby Alone
- 1981 - Toby and Johnny Joe
- 1982 - The Murder of Hound Dog Bates[5]
- 1983 - Cheater and Flitter Dick[6]
- 1983 - Spud Tackett
- 1984 - The Adventures of Johnnie May
- 1986 - The Girl[7]
- 1987 - Johnny May Grows Up
- 1989 - Cameo Rose
- 1991 - Old Blue Tiley
- 1991 - Never Pa's Girl
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Obituary - Robbie Branscum", Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, Virginia, May 31, 1997, p12
- ^ "Something about the author", vol. 72, pp. 19-21.
- ^ Robbie Tilley Branscum in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas
- ^ Branscum R: "Cheater and Flitter Dick". Viking Press, 1983
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/30/books/books-of-the-times-064849.html?n=Top/Features/Books/Book%20Reviews
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/23/books/children-s-books-229920.html?sec=&spon=
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X7kLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5FUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2756,2799532&dq=robbie-branscum
[edit] External links
- Robbie Tilley Branscum in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas
- "Her Books for Children Told of Poor, Rural America" - Obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
