Picture a Florida-born storyteller who traded city life for a North Carolina mountain farm, weaving tales of mystery and history that pulse with Appalachian soul—meet Vicki Lane! Her Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mystery series and the haunting stand-alone novel And the Crows Took Their Eyes capture the rugged beauty and complex heart of the Carolina hills, earning her a devoted following among cozy mystery and historical fiction fans.
With a knack for authentic dialogue and vivid settings, Lane’s stories feel like a walk through misty mountains, blending rural wisdom with gripping narratives. Her journey from aspiring poet to acclaimed novelist is as inspiring as the landscapes she describes, rooted in a life deeply connected to the land and people she’s called home since 1975.
The Making of Vicki Lane
Born in Tampa, Florida, Vicki Lane grew up with roots in pioneer Floridian and Alabama farming families. A graduate of the University of Florida, she initially dreamed of poetry, but a rejection from The New Yorker sent her down a different path. After teaching English and earning a master’s in English literature, Lane and her husband embraced the back-to-the-land movement, moving to a Madison County farm in 1975. There, they learned to milk cows, plow with mules, and live a life steeped in Appalachian traditions, which would later infuse her writing with unparalleled authenticity.
Her writing career began almost by accident. In 2000, after co-authoring quilting books, Lane enrolled in a community college fiction class, only to be told she lacked the passion to write a novel. Taking it as a challenge, she crafted her first mystery, Signs in the Blood, launching a career that proved her detractor wrong with six published novels and a historical fiction masterpiece.
Vicki Lane’s Unforgettable Stories
Lane’s Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mystery series, starting with Signs in the Blood (2005), introduces Elizabeth, a widowed farm owner in the fictional Ridley Branch, North Carolina. Each novel weaves cozy mysteries with Appalachian culture, from snake-handling churches to Cherokee legends. Art’s Blood (2006) explores a performance artist’s murder, while Old Wounds (2007), a Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance nominee, delves into a child’s disappearance. In a Dark Season (2008), an Anthony Award finalist, uncovers a house’s dark history, and Under the Skin (2011) examines sisterhood amid suspense.
In 2020, Lane ventured into historical fiction with And the Crows Took Their Eyes, a gripping retelling of the 1863 Shelton Laurel Massacre. Told through five vivid voices—Confederate and Unionist, male and female—this novel captures the Civil War’s neighbor-against-neighbor brutality. Praised by Charles Frazier for its “richly detailed vision,” it showcases Lane’s ability to breathe life into history. Her style, marked by evocative detail and authentic mountain dialect, creates immersive worlds that resonate with readers.
The Day of Small Things (2010), a standalone tied to the Goodweather series, follows “Miss Birdie,” a mountain healer, through a life of hardship and magic. Lane’s narratives blend folklore, history, and human resilience, making her a unique voice in both mystery and historical fiction.
Why Vicki Lane Matters
Vicki Lane’s work preserves the fading stories and dialects of Appalachia, offering readers a window into a world of misty mountains and tight-knit communities. Her mysteries celebrate rural life while tackling universal themes like loss, loyalty, and redemption. By teaching at venues like the Great Smokies Writing Program, Lane has inspired countless writers, sharing her passion and hard-won insights. Her historical fiction, particularly And the Crows Took Their Eyes, elevates local history to universal tragedy, connecting readers to America’s past.
Her influence extends beyond books. Living on the same farm for nearly five decades, Lane embodies the resilience and connection to place she writes about, making her a beloved figure in Madison County and beyond.
- Born: Tampa, Florida
- Key Works: Elizabeth Goodweather series, And the Crows Took Their Eyes, The Day of Small Things
- Awards: Anthony Award finalist, Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance nominee
- Home: Madison County, North Carolina, since 1975
Snag Signs in the Blood or And the Crows Took Their Eyes and dive into Vicki Lane’s captivating blend of mystery and mountain magic!