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Sarah McCoy

Goodreads Author

Born

in Fort Knox, Kentucky , The United States

April 14

Website

http://www.sarahmccoy.com/

Twitter

sarahmmccoy

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women & Gender Studies

Member Since

May 2009

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SARAH McCOY is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of eight books. Her work has been featured in Newsweek, Lit Hub, Huffington Post, Read It Forward, and other publications. She hosted the NPR WSNC Radio program “Bookmarked with Sarah McCoy” and is the founder of The McCoy Grant. Sarah taught English writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso. She lives with her husband Doc B, dog Gilly, and cat Tutu in North Carolina.

Connect with Sarah on Instagram at @SarahMMcCoy, on her Facebook Fan Page, Goodreads, or via www.sarahmccoy.com. ...more

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One of the most intriguing aspects of The Mapmaker's Children (and one that caused me to set the book aside and read more about it) is the long and dedicated friendship between Captain John Brown's family, and Henry David Thoreau, as indicated by the signed copy of 'Walden' that Sarah carries around. How did you discover the linkage between the two?

Sarah McCoy Great question, Paul!

I read Thoreau's "A Plea for Captain John Brown" and was captivated. He not only wrote this treatise but gave it as a speech mul…moreGreat question, Paul!

I read Thoreau's "A Plea for Captain John Brown" and was captivated. He not only wrote this treatise but gave it as a speech multiple times mere weeks after the raid on Harper's Ferry and the arrest of John Brown. Quite a bold act and incredibly dangerous for the times. Thoreau even went so far as to criticize the popular Christian majority, claiming that they said prayers then went to sleep aware of injustice but doing nothing. He stood and pointed a finger in the face of countrymen who were on the verge of picking up arms in Civil War. All for John Brown, whom most in the nation viewed as an abolitionist zealot. Their link had to have been beyond political advocacy. Those are the actions of a friend. Researching deeper, I found more evidence of the two in conversation. Brown being such a family man, Sarah Brown would've been familiar with her father's close friends and supporters.

I'm such a history nerd. I loved seeing these connections and brush-stroking them into my fiction. It's info that I felt was essential to fully understanding the social influences on Sarah Brown's character development even if it didn't directly pertain to THE MAPMAKER'S CHILDREN plot.

I'm so glad I have astute readers like you who pick up on the stories beyond the novel and take the time to know it for themselves. Thank you, Paul!

Yours truly,
Sarah (less)

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Sarah, you rock! Is the next book after The Mapmaker's Children, which is your new release, also historical fiction with a dual narrative? Any tidbits you can share like time period or setting? :) your adoring dan, serena

Sarah McCoy Dear adoring Serena,

Yes, the novel I'm writing now is another contemporary-historical dual narrative. ;) Tidbits I can share? Hmm... I'm one of those…moreDear adoring Serena,

Yes, the novel I'm writing now is another contemporary-historical dual narrative. ;) Tidbits I can share? Hmm... I'm one of those awful secretive authors. I don't whisper a word about my book babies until they are grown enough to hold their heads up autonomously. That said, I can tell you this-- it's turn of century (early 1900s) and today. The location is a far cry from anywhere I've ever gone before. To quote Doc B, "Book 1 was 1960s Puerto Rico. Book 2, WWII Germany. Book 3, Civil War Virginia. And now this?? After 17 years together, you'd think I'd know your imagination."

Don't blame me. I'm just the writer. I go where the characters point and I'm having a wildly good time adventuring to this ancient exotic setting. Stay tuned. More information releasing in the next few months...

Yours truly,
Sarah(less)

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Sarah McCoy’s books

Average rating: 3.93 · 49,904 ratings · 6,781 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Baker's Daughter 3.97 avg rating — 24,326 ratings — published 2012 — 51 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Marilla of Green Gables 4.04 avg rating — 14,448 ratings — published 2018 — 29 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mapmaker's Children 3.73 avg rating — 5,899 ratings — published 2014 — 26 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mustique Island 3.41 avg rating — 1,863 ratings — published 2022 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico 3.35 avg rating — 606 ratings — published 2009 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Le souffle des feuilles et des promesses 3.57 avg rating — 308 ratings — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely? 4.19 avg rating — 43 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	La figlia dei ricordi - Assaggi d'autore gratuiti 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pakiet: Maryla z Zielonego Wzgorza/ Corka piekarza 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lies 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Sarah McCoy and 4 other people liked Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50)'s review of Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely?: "I loved this novel. Lori Lovely has had a fascinating life. This one made me laugh, cry and wonder what her life was like. I loved the mention of Longaberger Baskets & Pottery as I sold these products for 10 years. Fame, fortune and all that goes wit" Read more of this review »
Jul 29, 2025 12:06AM · see review
Sarah McCoy liked Aletha Pagett's review of Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely?: "This is a book where you fall in love with each character. An amazingly well told story that immerses the reader in the lives of each person. Great read from Goodreads!"
Jul 29, 2025 12:06AM · see review
Sarah McCoy liked Marissa's review of Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely?: "THIS BOOK!!!! Pub date: 9/2. The celebs. The movie sets. The Italian countryside. The 60's. The 90's.The juxtaposition between a Southern Baptist turned Catholic. The secrets. The love. The sex. The drugs. The lies. The reveals. The heartache. ALL OF" Read more of this review »
Jul 29, 2025 12:06AM · see review
Sarah McCoy liked Tammy Frericks's review of Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely?: "Thank you William Morrow and Harper Collin’s for the ARC. Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely is a great summer read! It moves in a dual timeline, from the film industry in the 1960’s to an abbey in 1990, where a former famous Hollywood starlet is now t" Read more of this review »
Jul 29, 2025 12:05AM · see review
Sarah McCoy made a comment on Ashlyn Chaffin’s review of Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely? " ❤️ "
Jun 09, 2025 12:11AM · see review
Sarah McCoy made a comment on Susan McBeth (Adventures by the Book)’s review of Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely? " ❤️ "
Jun 09, 2025 12:11AM · see review
Sarah McCoy made a comment on Cassie Bustamante’s review of Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely? " ❤️ "
Jun 09, 2025 12:10AM · see review
Sarah McCoy voted for The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement as Readers' Favorite History & Biography in the Opening Round of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 12, 2024 05:28PM · 3 likes · like

More of Sarah's books…

Quotes by Sarah McCoy (?)

“People often miss things that don't exist--miss things that were but are not anymore.”
― Sarah McCoy, The Baker's Daughter

tags: desire, longing, missing-something

34 likes

“We all tell little lies about ourselves, Our past, our presents. We think some of them are minuscule, unimportant, And others, large and incriminating. But they are the same. Only God Has enough of the story to judge our souls.”
― Sarah McCoy, The Baker's Daughter

tags: inspirational, religious, truthful

14 likes

“The marks on our lives are like music notes on the page--they sing a song.”
― Sarah McCoy, The Baker's Daughter

13 likes

See all Sarah McCoy's quotes »

Polls

What would you like to read for the June 2012 BOM?

The Crossing Places/Elly Griffiths

5 votes, 25.0%

Moloka'i/Alan Brennert

5 votes, 25.0%

The Baker's Daughter/Sarah McCoy

3 votes, 15.0%

Sarah's Key/Tatiana de Rosnay

3 votes, 15.0%

The Good Father/Diane Chamberlain

3 votes, 15.0%

The Quest for Anna Klein/Thomas H. Cook

1 vote, 5.0%

A Watershed Year/Susan Schoenberger

0 votes, 0.0%

20 total votes

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