HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.
MembersReviewsPopularityRatingFavorited   Events   
4,8591005,105 (3.84)9
Olive Ann Burns was born July 17, 1924, on a farm in Banks County, Georgia, and attended school in Commerce, Georgia. She received a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1946. Between 1947 and 1957, Burns wrote for the Sunday magazine of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. In 1956 she married the magazine's editor, Andrew H. Sparks. From 1960 to 1967 Burns wrote under the pseudonym Amy Larkin for the advice column "Ask Amy." In 1975, after being diagnosed with cancer, Burns began her best-known work, Cold Sassy Tree (1984). An entertaining story about a family living in rural Georgia around the turn of the century, it is loosely based on stories told to Burns by her own family members. Burns explained that her previous experience as a journalist was helpful to her in writing the novel, but that she never intended for it to be published. Three years into her writing Burns had recovered from the cancer but was determined to finish the novel. It would take several more years to complete. Cold Sassy Tree was so successful that Burns began a sequel when her cancer returned. In the final days of her life, she left instructions for the completion of the book. Leaving Cold Sassy was published according to her wishes. Burns died in July 1990. (Bowker Author Biography) — biography from Cold Sassy Tree… (more)
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical name
Legal name
Other names
Date of birth
Date of death
Burial location
Gender
Nationality
Country (for map)
Birthplace
Place of death
Cause of death
Places of residence
Education
Occupations
Relationships
Agents
Organizations
Awards and honors
Short biography
Olive Ann Burns was a professional writer, journalist, and columnist for most of her life. For many years, she was a staff writer for Atlanta newspapers and the Atlanta Journal Magazine. She

was motivated to write her first novel, ''Cold Sassy Tree'' (1984), when she became ill with lymphoma. The book was an instant success and in 1985 it was added to the list of books recommended for teenagers by the American Library Association and the New York Public Library.
Disambiguation notice

Member ratings

Average: (3.84)
0.5 1
1 17
1.5 1
2 84
2.5 11
3 253
3.5 56
4 399
4.5 51
5 306

Improve this author

Combine/separate works

Author division

Olive Ann Burns is currently considered a "single author." If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.

Includes

Olive Ann Burns is composed of 9 names. You can examine and separate out names.

Combine with…

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 194,832,386 books! | Top bar: Always visible