Local Authors

Writers by town

Town tags record a documented connection through residence, work, study or sustained literary activity, not a current address.

Hillsborough 128

The town the Wall Street Journal called “America’s Little Literary Town.”

Lee Smith · Allan Gurganus · Frances Mayes · Jill McCorkle

Explore Hillsborough writers →

Chapel Hill 923

Home to UNC, longtime publishers and journalists, and generations of writers who have lived and worked here.

Sarah Dessen · Paul Green · Betty Smith · Randall Kenan

Explore Chapel Hill writers →

Carrboro 51

A small town with a long literary streak: poets, novelists, cartoonists, publishers and writers of all kinds.

Daphne Athas · Jay Bryan · Keith Knight · Amanda Bennett

Explore Carrboro writers →

Orange County's literary life does not stop at the town limits: Cedar Grove 3 Efland 1 Mebane 10

Are you an Orange County author, or do you know someone we have missed? Send us a name or correction →

Local Author Directory

1,876 connected writers · 281 at OCPL · 1,117 titles in the OCPL catalog

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• James R. AbernathyNewSocial sciences · Taught at UNCAmerican statistician, taught at UNC; author of 3 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from Subject matter coverage in the dual-report systems of India (1972) to The dual record system (1977).
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• Milton A. AbernethyJournalism & cartooning · Lived or worked in Chapel HillWith Anthony Buttitta, edited the little magazine Contempo from Chapel Hill from 1931 to 1934, publishing Faulkner and Langston Hughes, and founded the Intimate Bookshop.
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• Jonathan S. AbramowitzNewCollege teacher · Lived or worked in Chapel Hill · Taught at UNCUNC professor of psychology and an authority on obsessive-compulsive disorder; author of Getting Over OCD and other guides.
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• Suzanne AdairNovelist · Lived or worked in HillsboroughAlso published or known as Suzanne WilliamsMystery writer whose Michael Stoddard series follows a young British officer through Revolutionary-era North Carolina; her Paper Woman won the Patrick D. Smith Literature Award.
  7 titles at OCPLWebsite ↗Explore 7 books & sources ▾
• Agatha Boyd Adams1892–1950Biography · Lived or worked in Chapel HillUNC librarian and biographer of Paul Green of Chapel Hill; her daughter Alice Adams appears in this directory in her own right.
  1 title at OCPLExplore 1 book & sources ▾
• Alice Adams1926–1999Fiction · Lived or worked in Chapel HillAlso published or known as Alice Boyd Adams LinenthalHonors: Guggenheim FellowshipGrew up in Chapel Hill and returned to it in fiction; a multiple O. Henry Award winner whose novels include A Southern Exposure.
  1 title at OCPLExplore 1 book & sources ▾
• E. M. AdamsNewHumanities · Lived or worked in Chapel HillAmerican philosopher, lived in Chapel Hill; author of 6 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from The fundamentals of general logic (1954) to A society fit for human beings (1997).
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• Ellery AdamsNovelist · Lived or worked in Chapel HillPen name of Jennifer Stanley, New York Times bestselling author of the Secret, Book & Scone Society and Books by the Bay mysteries, written from her home in Chapel Hill.
  15 titles at OCPLWebsite ↗Explore 15 books & sources ▾
• John B. AdamsNewJournalism & cartooning · Taught at UNCTaught at UNC; author of News sources (1964).
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• Kirk S. AdamsNewSciences & medicine · Lived or worked in Chapel HillLives in Chapel Hill; contributor to Case exercises in clinical reasoning (1981).
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• Raymond Adams1898–1987NewStudied at UNCA UNC graduate; author of The Thoreau library of Raymond Adams (1936).
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• Robert Merrihew AdamsNewHumanitiesAmerican analytic philosopher, affiliated with UNC; author of 4 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from The virtue of faith and other essays in philosophical theology (1987) to A theory of virtue (2006).
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• Lois A. AddisonNewSocial sciences · Lived or worked in Chapel HillLives in Chapel Hill; author of The office laboratory (1990).
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• Adaora A. AdimoraNewSciences & medicineHonors: Mary Turner Lane AwardAmerican doctor and academic, affiliated with UNC; contributor to Sexually transmitted diseases (1993).
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• Dorothy C. Adkins1912–1975NewOther scholarship · Lived or worked in Chapel Hill · Taught at UNCAlso published or known as Wood, Dorothy AdkinsAmerican psychologist, taught at UNC and lived in Chapel Hill; author of 3 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from Factor analysis of reasoning tests (1952) to Test construction (1974).
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• Abhinav AggarwalNewSocial sciences · Lived or worked in Chapel HillLives in Chapel Hill; author of September 11--a wake-up call (2003).
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• Christopher Rolfe AgnewNewSocial sciences · Studied at UNCAmerican social psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University, a UNC graduate; contributor to Then a miracle occurs (2010) and 2 other titles.
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• Dasan AhanuPoet · Chapel Hill · Taught at UNCAlso published or known as Chris MassenburgSpoken word artist, 2023 Piedmont Laureate, and visiting professor at UNC.
  Not at OCPL · At nearby libraries · ILLWebsite ↗Find books & research sources ▾
• Renée AhdiehNewNovelist · Chapel Hill · Studied at UNCKorean-American author of the New York Times bestselling The Wrath & the Dawn and its sequels; a UNC graduate who lives in Charlotte.
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• John F. AhearneNewEducation · Lived or worked in Chapel HillAlso published or known as Ahron, G'on F.Honors: Leo Szilard Lectureship AwardAmerican theoretical physicist, lived in Chapel Hill; author of Yoshrah ṿe-etiḳah ba-madaʻ (2009).
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• Neel AhujaNewSciences & medicineAffiliated with UNC; author of Bioinsecurities (2016).
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• Susan Grey Akers1889–1984NewOther scholarship · Lived or worked in Chapel HillHonors: Margaret Mann CitationAmerican librarian and the first woman to hold an academic deanship, lived in Chapel Hill; author of 5 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from Simple library cataloging (1927) to Akers' simple library cataloging (1977).
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• Gaylord P. AlbaughNewHistory & archives · Lived or worked in Chapel HillProfessor of church history, lived in Chapel Hill; author of History and annotated bibliography of American religious… (1994).
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• Kathryn Rhodes AldenNewSciences & medicine · Lived or worked in Chapel HillLives in Chapel Hill; editor of Maternity & women's health care (2016).
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• Edwin Anderson Alderman1861–1931NewCollege president · Chapel Hill · Taught at UNCHonors: Doctor of Civil Law · Legum DoctorWilmington-born educator who led UNC as president from 1896 to 1900, then Tulane and the University of Virginia; a UNC graduate of 1882.
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• Eben Alexander1851–1910NewOther scholarship · Lived or worked in Chapel HillHonors: Legum DoctorAmerican scholar, educator, dean, and diplomat, lived in Chapel Hill.
  3 titles at OCPLExplore 3 books & sources ▾
• Kelly AlexanderCollege teacher · Lived or worked in Chapel HillFood writer and author of Hometown Appetites, the life of food journalist Clementine Paddleford.
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• Will Winton Alexander1884–1956NewSciences & medicine · Lived or worked in Chapel HillHonors: William E. Harmon Foundation award for distinguished achievement among NegroesChief executive officer of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation as well as the first president of Dillard University, lived in Chapel Hill; contributor to The collapse of cotton tenancy. Summary of Field studies &… (1935) and 1 other title.
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• Mark D. AlickeNewSocial sciencesAmerican social psychologist, affiliated with UNC; contributor to The self in social judgment (2005) and 1 other title.
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• John V. Allcott1905–1989NewArts & music · Lived or worked in Chapel Hill · Taught at UNCProfessor of art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, taught at UNC and lived in Chapel Hill; author of Colonial homes in North Carolina (1963) and The campus at Chapel Hill (1986).
  1 title at OCPLExplore 1 book & sources ▾
• Joyce AllenFiction · Lived or worked in CarrboroChildren's fantasy author of the Threads Trilogy; read at the Friends' 2015 fall book sale.
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• Tiffany Eatman AllenNewOther scholarship · Taught at UNCHas taught at UNC; contributor to Career Q&A (2013).
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• Charles W. Allison1883–1959NewLived or worked in MebaneLived in Mebane; author of The Reverend Thomas Johnston Allison family history (1955).
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• Stephen AllredNewSocial sciencesAffiliated with UNC; author of 4 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from A legal guide to public employee free speech in North Carolina (1989) to A practical guide to using alternative dispute resolution in… (1994).
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• Samuel AmagoNewHumanitiesAffiliated with UNC; author of True lies (2006) and Spanish cinema in the global context (2013).
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• Harry AmanaHistory & archives · Lived or worked in Chapel Hill · Taught at UNCUNC journalism professor and historian of the Black press; a contributor to 27 Views of Chapel Hill.
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• Barbara AmbrosNewHumanities · Taught at UNCProfessor of East Asian religions, has taught at UNC; author of 3 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from Emplacing a pilgrimage (2008) to Women in Japanese religions (2015).
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• David N. AmmonsNewSocial sciences · Taught at UNCProfessor of public administration and government, has taught at UNC; author of 11 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from Municipal productivity (1984) to Budget-balancing tactics in local government (2010).
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• Soontae AnNewAffiliated with UNC; editor of The global advertising regulation handbook (2014).
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• Mary Sweaney AndersenNewLived or worked in Chapel HillAlso published or known as Sweaney, Mary FrancesLives in Chapel Hill.
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• Alexander AndersonNewLived or worked in Chapel HillLives in Chapel Hill.
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• Amy L. AndersonNewSocial sciencesAffiliated with UNC; contributor to Activist educators (2009).
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• Daniel AndersonNewEditor · Poet · College teacher · Taught at UNCPoet who has taught at UNC, the University of Oregon, and Alabama at Birmingham.
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• Glaire D. AndersonNewHistory & archives · Taught at UNCProfessor of art history, has taught at UNC; author of The Islamic villa in early medieval Iberia (2013).
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• James H. AndersonNewOther scholarshipHonors: IEEE Fellow · ACM FellowKenan Distinguished Professor in the computer science department, affiliated with UNC.
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• Jean Anderson1929–2023Cooking · Lived or worked in Chapel HillChapel Hill cookbook author and food historian whose books include The American Century Cookbook, A Love Affair with Southern Cooking, and Kiln to Kitchen; a member of the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame.
  3 titles at OCPLExplore 3 books & sources ▾
• John J. B. AndersonNewSciences & medicine · Lived or worked in Chapel HillLived in Chapel Hill; author of 3 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from Nutrition and health (2005) to Human nutrition (2015).
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• Richmond K. AndersonNewEducation · Lived or worked in Chapel HillLived in Chapel Hill; contributor to Population and family planning, manpower and training (1971).
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• Robert Nelson AndersonNewHumanities · Studied at UNCA UNC graduate; author of Realism, allegory, and the strangled cry (1998).
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• Kenneth T. AndrewsNewHistory & archives · Lived or worked in Chapel Hill · Taught at UNCSociologist of social movements and civil rights who taught at UNC before moving to Washington University in St. Louis; author of Freedom Is a Constant Struggle (2004).
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• Richard N. L. AndrewsNewSciences & medicine · Taught at UNCUniversity teacher and professor, taught at UNC; author of 3 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from Environmental policy and administrative change (1976) to Managing the environment, managing ourselves (1999).
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• William L. AndrewsNewHumanities · Taught at UNCHonors: William Riley Parker PrizeAmerican Professor Emeritus of English at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has taught at UNC; author of The literary career of Charles W. Chesnutt (1980) and To tell a free story (1986).
  1 title at OCPLExplore 1 book & sources ▾
• Camille AndrosChildren's books · Lived or worked in Chapel HillPicture book author of Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished.
  4 titles at OCPLWebsite ↗Explore 4 books & sources ▾
• Michael V. AngrosinoNewSocial sciences · Studied at UNCAmerican anthropologist (1947-), a UNC graduate; author of 11 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from Outside is death (1974) to How do they know that? (2010).
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• Anne AnthonyFiction · Lived or worked in HillsboroughShort story writer whose The Collection: Flash Fiction for Flash Memory was written for readers experiencing memory changes; read at the 2018 Hillsborough Local Author Book Fair.
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• William Edward AnthonyNewLived or worked in Chapel HillLives in Chapel Hill; contributor to Confederate longarms and pistols (1978).
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• Martine AntleNewHumanities · Taught at UNCHas taught at UNC; author of Théâtre et poésie surréalistes (1988) and Cultures du surréalisme (2001).
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• Allen AppelFiction · Lived or worked in HillsboroughNovelist of the Alex Balfour time-travel series that began with Time After Time (1985) and a longtime reviewer of thrillers; with Sherry Conway Appel he wrote a shelf of gift books for parents and children.
  1 title at OCPLExplore 1 book & sources ▾
• Sherry Conway AppelArts & music · Lived or worked in HillsboroughPlaywright and communications strategist who, with her husband Allen Appel, wrote the gift books From Mother to Daughter, Thanks, Mom and Wisdom from the Kitchen (St. Martin's).
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• Dennis R. AppleyardNewSocial sciences · Taught at UNCProfessor of economics, taught at UNC; author of International economics (1992).
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• Benjamin S. ArbuckleNewHistory & archives · Taught at UNCResearcher, has taught at UNC; contributor to Animals and inequality in the ancient world (2014).
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• Pablo ArielNewOther scholarship · Lived or worked in Chapel Hill · Taught at UNCTaught at UNC and lives in Chapel Hill; author of Mi amigo Pedro (1964).
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• Christopher M. ArmitageNewOther scholarship · Taught at UNCProfessor of English, has taught at UNC; author of A bibliography of the works of Louis MacNeice (1973) and Sir Walter Ralegh, an annotated bibliography (1987).
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• Gary ArmstrongNewSocial sciencesEconomist (1943-), affiliated with UNC; author of Marketing (2000) and Marketing, an Asian perspective (2006).
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• John Armstrong1725–1795NewLived or worked in the countyLived in Chapel Hill.
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• Warren Ashby1920–1985NewMemoir & essays · Taught at UNCAmerican philosopher, taught at UNC; author of Frank Porter Graham, a Southern liberal (1980) and A comprehensive history of Western ethics (2005).
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• Lester AsheimNewHistory & archives · Lived or worked in Chapel HillHonors: Library Hall of Fame · American Library Association Honorary Membership · Joseph W. Lippincott AwardAmerican librarian and scholar of library science and film history, lived in Chapel Hill; author of 4 books in the Library of Congress catalog, from The humanities and the library (1957) to The reader-viewer-listener (1987).
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• Linda AshmanPicture books for children · Lived or worked in Chapel HillAlso published or known as Linda Ashman HicksChapel Hill author of more than fifty picture books, including Rain! and Over the River and Through the Wood; she also wrote The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books.
  28 titles at OCPLWebsite ↗Explore 28 books & sources ▾
• Daphne Athas1923–2020Biography · Lived or worked in Chapel HillLongtime UNC teacher whose Entering Ephesus and Chapel Hill in Plain Sight made the town her lifelong subject.
  1 title at OCPLExplore 1 book & sources ▾
• Laurence G. AveryNewHumanities · Taught at UNCProfessor of English, has taught at UNC; editor of A catalogue of the Maxwell Anderson collection at the… (1968) and 4 other titles.
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• Tamara AycockMemoir & essaysHer memoir The Power of Walking in Forgiveness tells her own story of surviving abuse and homelessness with her faith intact.
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• William B. AycockNewLaw & public affairs · Lived or worked in Chapel HillHonors: Bronze Star Medal · Silver Star · Legionnaire of Legion of MeritAmerican educator, lived in Chapel Hill; author of Military law under the Uniform code of military justice (1955).
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• Patricia J. AyersNewLived or worked in Chapel HillLives in Chapel Hill; contributor to Inside Dreamweaver MX (2002).
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• Edward E. AzarNewSocial sciencesPolitical scientist who developed the theory of protracted social conflict; taught at UNC before the University of Maryland; author of Probe for Peace (1973) and The Management of Protracted Social Conflict (1990).
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• Henry A. AzarNewOther scholarship · Lived or worked in Chapel HillPhysician, lived in Chapel Hill; author of Multiple myeloma and related disorders (1973).
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