Sharan Newman

Sharan Newman (born April 15, 1949, in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is an American historian and writer of historical novels. She won the Macavity Award for Best First Mystery in 1994.

Biography Newman's father was a USAF captain; her mother was a psychologist. In 1971 she both graduated from Antioch College and married Paul Richard Newman, a physicist. She also gained a master's in medieval literature in 1973 from Michigan State University and then doctoral work in Medieval studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Newman lectures widely in medieval history and currently lives in Ireland.

Writing Newman's first novels were a historical trilogy about Guinevere. Then she turned to mystery novels set in 12th-century France featuring Catherine LeVendeur, a novice in a convent run by Heloise – though she later leaves and marries. The novel was also nominated for the 1994 Dilys Award for the mystery title of the year which the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association booksellers have most enjoyed selling. The Wandering Arm and Strong As Death also received nominations for Agatha Awards for "Best Novel" in 1995 and 1996 respectively.

Anthologies edited Crime Through Time (1997) (with Miriam Grace Monfredo) Crime Through Time II (1998) (with Miriam Grace Monfredo) Crime Through Time III (2000) (intro. Anne Perry)

Non-fiction The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code (2005) The Real History Behind the Templars (2007) The Real History of the End of the World (2010) Defending the City of God (2014)