Valerie Sherrard

Valerie Anne Sherrard (née Russell: born May 16, 1957) is a Canadian author of books for children and young adults including the novels The Glory Wind, Kate, Speechless and the Shelby Belgarden mystery series. In 2024, she was named the Literary Arts Laureate of the New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor's Award for High Achievement in the Arts.

Early life Valerie Anne Russell was born May 16, 1957, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Robert Allan and Pauline May Russell. Her father was an air force mechanic, and her mother was a homemaker. She has two brothers. She was inspired to become a teacher by her sixth grade homeroom teacher while she and her family were living in Lahr, West Germany.

Career Sherrard has published thirty books, including fiction and nonfiction for children, young adults, and adults. She published her first novel, Out of the Ashes, in 2002, the first book of the Shelby Belgarden Mysteries series. This was followed by In Too Deep (2003), Chasing Shadows (2004), Hiding in Plain Sight (2005), Eyes of a Stalker (2006), and Searching for Yesterday (2008).

Awards and honours In 2024, Sherrard was named the Literary Arts Laureate of the New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor's Award for High Achievement in the Arts.

Booklist included Tumbleweed Skies on their 2010 list of the year's best books for youth, as well as their 2011 list of the "Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth".

Personal life Russell married carpenter Brent Ronald Sherrard on June 26, 1999. She has three children,

Sherrard lives in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

Selected works

Picture and chapter books

There's a COW Under my Bed!, Tuckamore Books, 2008, illustrated by David Jardine. There's a GOLDFISH in My Shoe!, Tuckamore Books, 2009, illustrated by David Jardine. Miss Wondergem's Dreadfully Dreadful Pie, Tuckamore Books, 2011, illustrated by Wendy J Whittingham. Down Here, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2015, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant. Cooper Clark and the Dragon Lady, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2019, illustrated by David Jardine.

Middle grade and young adult novels

Kate, Dundurn, 2003. Sam's Light, Dundurn, 2004. Sarah's Legacy, Dundurn, 2006. Speechless, Dundurn, 2007. Three Million Acres of Flame, Dundurn, 2007. Watcher, Dundurn, 2009. Tumbleweed Skies, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2009. The Glory Wind, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2010. Accomplice, Dundurn, 2011. Testify, Dundurn, 2011. Counting Back from Nine, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012. Driftwood, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2013. Rain Shadow, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2014. Random Acts, PenguinRandomHouse Canada, 2015. The Rise and Fall of Derek Cowell, DCB, 2020. Birdspell, DCB, 2021. A Bend in the Breeze, DCB, 2022. Standing on Neptune, DCB, 2023. An Unbalanced Force, DCB, 2024. Absolutely No Body Parts, DCB, 2026.

The Shelby Belgarden Mysteries

Out of the Ashes, Dundurn, 2002. In Too Deep, Dundurn, 2003. Chasing Shadows, Dundurn, 2004. Hiding in Plain Sight, Dundurn, 2005. Eyes of a Stalker, Dundurn, 2006. Searching for Yesterday, Dundurn, 2008.

Non-fiction

More than Words: Navigating the Complex World of Communication, DCB, 2023, with Natalie Hyde, Artwork by David Jardine.