Robbie Branscum

Robbie Nell Tilley Branscum (June 17, 1934 – 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 an Edgar Award (1983).[1][2]

Robbie Branscum
BornRobbie Nell Tilley
(1934-06-17)June 17, 1934
Big Flat, Arkansas
DiedMay 24, 1997(1997-05-24) (aged 62)
San Pablo, California
OccupationAuthor, farmworker
NationalityAmerican
Period1971–1991
Genrechildren's literature
young adult fiction
Notable awardsEdgar Award, Friends of American Writers Award, PEN Award
SpouseDwane Branscum (1949; div.)
Leslie Carrico (1974; div.)
ChildrenDeborah Branscum

Early life and education

Robbie was born on a farm near Big Flat, Arkansas. Her father died when she was only four 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[3] and provided for her livelihood through work at dirt farms.[1] At the age of 15 she married Dwane Branscum. She gave birth to a daughter and divorced at the age of 25.[2]

Writer career

Branscum's 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. Branscum's first book was Me and Jim Luke (1971).

Branscum published 20 books in 20 years time, though not one each year. Several of her books were translated into Danish, Italian, Japanese, and Swedish. Branscum worked with literary agent Barthold Fles,[4] who described her as "the worst speller and best writer I have."[5]

In 1977, she won an Award of Merit from the Friends of American Writers for Toby, Granny and George[6] and in 1983 an Edgar Award for The Murder of Hound Dog Bates.

Death

She died from a heart attack in 1997 in her home in San Pablo, California.[1]

Honors and awards
  • 1977 – Friends of American Writers Award of Merit for Toby, Granny and George[6]
  • 1979 – Best of the Best 1966–1978, School Library Journal, for Johnny May[6]
  • 1983 – Edgar Award, Category: Best Juvenile, for The Murder of Hound Dog Bates[6][7]

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[8]
  • 1983 – Cheater and Flitter Dick[9]
  • 1983 – Spud Tackett
  • 1984 – The Adventures of Johnnie May
  • 1986 – The Girl[10]
  • 1987 – Johnny May Grows Up
  • 1989 – Cameo Rose
  • 1991 – Old Blue Tiley
  • 1991 – Never Pa's Girl

References
  1. "Obituary - Robbie Branscum". Daily News-Record. Harrisonburg, Virginia. May 31, 1997. p. 12.
  2. Robbie Tilley Branscum. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. Larsen, Nancy (19 September 2023). "Robbie Branscum Papers". University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections. citing Something about the author. Vol. 72. pp. 19–21.
  4. Branscum, Robbie (1983). Cheater and Flitter Dick. Viking Press. ISBN 9780670213504.
  5. "Author Not Part of Jet-setting Crowd". Blytheville Courier News. Blytheville, Arkansas. November 19, 1983. p. 3 – via Newspaperarchive.com. Barthold Fles, Ms. Branscum's agent, said, "She's the worst speller and best writer I have." [...] Fles has never met the author who prefers to remain lost in the heartland. [...] Ms. Branscum plumbs childhood memories of Big Flat, Ark., for many of her characters.
  6. Saxon, Wolfgang (May 30, 1997). "Robbie Tilley Branscum, 62, Children's Author". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  7. "Search the Edgars Database!". Mystery Writers of America.
  8. Woods, George A. (November 30, 1982). "Books Of The Times". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  9. Kuskin, Karla (October 23, 1983). "Children's Books". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  10. Reed, Arthea (1994). "Coming-of-Age". Comics to Classics: A Guide to Books for Teens and Preteens. Penguin Books. pp. 124–125. ISBN 9781101161708. The Girl, Robbie Branscum. 1986. This autobiographical novel depicts the struggles of growing up in poverty in the Arkansas hills. It realistically portrays sexual abuse and sibling courage.
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