Valerie Sherrard

Valerie Sherrard
Born
Valerie Anne Russell

(1957-05-16) May 16, 1957
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
OccupationAuthor
Spouse
Brent Sherrard
​
(m. 1999)​
Children3
Writing career
GenreChildren's Literature
Notable workThe Glory Wind

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 (née Hill) Russell. Her father was an air force mechanic, and her mother was a homemaker.[1] 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,[2] the first book of the Shelby Belgarden Mysteries series. This was followed by In Too Deep (2003),[3] Chasing Shadows (2004), Hiding in Plain Sight (2005),[4] 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.[5]

Booklist included Tumbleweed Skies on their 2010 list of the year's best books for youth,[6] as well as their 2011 list of the "Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth".[7]

Awards for Sherrard's work
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2003 Out of the Ashes: A Shelby Belgarden Mystery Blue Spruce Award Finalist [8][9]
2008 Speechless Ann Connor Brimer Award Finalist [10]
2010 Tumbleweed Skies Ann Connor Brimer Award Finalist [10]
2011 The Glory Wind Ann Connor Brimer Award Winner [10]
Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award Finalist [11]
Geoffrey Bilson Award Winner [12]
Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award Finalist [13]
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Finalist [14]
2012 Testify Forest of Reading Red Maple Award Finalist [15]
2013 Counting Back from Nine Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature Finalist [16][17]
2015 Driftwood Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award Finalist [18]
2016 Rain Shadow Ann Connor Brimer Award Finalist [19]
2022 Birdspell Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize Shortlist [20]
2023 A Bend in the Breeze Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize Shortlist [21]
2024 More than Words: Navigating the Complex World of Communication WFNB Nonfiction Award Shortlist [22]
Standing on Neptune Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize Shortlist [23]
An Unbalanced Force New Brunswick Book Award for Books for Youth and Young Adults Winner [24]
2025 Standing on Neptune Ann Connor Brimer Award Winner [25]

Personal life

Russell married carpenter Brent Ronald Sherrard on June 26, 1999. She has three children,[1] as well as three step-children. Additionally, between 1986 and 1999, she fostered approximately 70 teenagers.[1][26]

Sherrard lives in Miramichi, New Brunswick.[27]

Selected works

Picture and chapter books

  • There's a COW Under my Bed!, Tuckamore Books, 2008, illustrated by David Jardine.[28]
  • 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.[29]
  • 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.[30][31][32]
  • The Glory Wind, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2010.[33]
  • Accomplice, Dundurn, 2011.[34][35]
  • Testify, Dundurn, 2011.[36]
  • Counting Back from Nine, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012.[37]
  • Driftwood, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2013.
  • Rain Shadow, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2014.[38]
  • Random Acts, PenguinRandomHouse Canada, 2015.
  • The Rise and Fall of Derek Cowell, DCB, 2020.
  • Birdspell, DCB, 2021.[39]
  • A Bend in the Breeze, DCB, 2022.[40]
  • Standing on Neptune, DCB, 2023.[41]
  • An Unbalanced Force, DCB, 2024.[42][43]
  • Absolutely No Body Parts, DCB, 2026.[44]

The Shelby Belgarden Mysteries

  • Out of the Ashes, Dundurn, 2002.
  • In Too Deep, Dundurn, 2003.
  • Chasing Shadows, Dundurn, 2004.[45]
  • 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.[46]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sherrard, Valerie (Anne) 1957-". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ Jenkinson, Dave (May 24, 2002). "Out of the Ashes". Canadian Review of Materials. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via ProQuest.
  3. ↑ Peters, Joanne (November 28, 2003). "In Too Deep (A Shelby Belgarden Mystery)". Canadian Review of Materials. 10 (7) – via ProQuest.
  4. ↑ Birrell, Heather (October 2005). "Hiding in Plain Sight". Books in Canada. 34 (7): 39–40 – via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (September 30, 2024). "Author Valerie Sherrard named 2024 New Brunswick literary arts laureate". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on June 23, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2010". Booklist. January 1, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  7. ↑ Cooper, Ilene (April 15, 2011). "Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth: 2011". Booklist. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Research Guides: Forest of Reading®, 7 to 12 Programs: Red Maple Winners & Nominees, 1998-2023". Queen's University Library. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ Ontario Library Association. "Red Maple Award™ Winners and Nominees 1998–2021" (PDF). Forest of Reading. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Ann Connor Brimer Award". Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia. June 10, 2020. Archived from the original on May 8, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Canadian Library Association Announces 2011 Book of the Year For Children Award Shortlist". Canadian Library Association. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ Carter, Sue (October 5, 2011). "Erin Bow's Plain Kate wins TD Canadian Children's Literature Award". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ Carter, Sue (October 17, 2011). "Ontario Library Association announces Forest of Reading award shortlists - Quill and Quire". Quill and Quire - Canada's magazine of book news and reviews. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Previous TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Winners and Finalists". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  15. ↑ Carter, Sue (October 16, 2012). "Ontario Library Association announces Forest of Reading shortlists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  16. ↑ Ahearn, Victoria (October 2, 2013). "Governor General Literary Award finalists announced (updated)". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 14, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ↑ Carter, Sue (October 2, 2013). "Penguin Random House Canada fiction dominates GG awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  18. ↑ Carter, Sue (March 7, 2014). "Canadian Library Association announces kids' book award finalists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  19. ↑ Robertson, Becky (March 29, 2016). "Dean Jobb, Sarah Mian among Atlantic Book Awards finalists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  20. ↑ Fisher, James M. (May 28, 2024). "Shortlisted Titles Announced for New Brunswick Book Awards". The Miramichi Reader. Archived from the original on February 18, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  21. ↑ "The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick - Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize". Writers Federation of New Brunswick. Archived from the original on March 12, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  22. ↑ "2023–24 New Brunswick Book Awards shortlists announced". Quill and Quire. March 20, 2024. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  23. ↑ "2023–24 New Brunswick Book Awards shortlists announced". Quill and Quire. March 20, 2024. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  24. ↑ Berki, Attila (June 2, 2025). "New Brunswick Book Awards winners announced". Quill and Quire. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  25. ↑ Berki, Attila (June 9, 2025). "Gaspereau's Andrew Steeves and Gary Dunfield honoured at Atlantic Book Awards". Quill and Quire. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  26. ↑ ""Valerie Sherrard" by The Writers' Union of Canada". WritersUnion.ca. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005.
  27. ↑ "Valerie Sherrard". Dundurn.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  28. ↑ Nielsen, Valerie (February 20, 2009). "There's a Cow Under My Bed!". Canadian Review of Materials. 15 (13) – via ProQuest.
  29. ↑ Cleversey, Meredith (November 20, 2015). "Down Here". Canadian Review of Materials. 22 (12) – via ProQuest.
  30. ↑ "Tumbleweed Skies". Kirkus Reviews. May 1, 2010. Archived from the original on April 23, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  31. ↑ Boyd, Karen (February 19, 2010). "Tumbleweed Skies". Canadian Review of Materials. 16 (23).
  32. ↑ "Tumbleweed Skies". Booklist. May 15, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  33. ↑ "The Glory Wind". Kirkus Reviews. January 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 10, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Accomplice by Valerie Sherrard". Publishers Weekly. January 24, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  35. ↑ de Mariaffi, Elisabeth (March 30, 2011). "Accomplice". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  36. ↑ Corey, Denise (April 2011). "Testify". Resource Links. 16: 31 – via ProQuest.
  37. ↑ Hedeen, Katrina (March–April 2013). "Counting Back from Nine". The Horn Book Magazine. 89 (2) – via Gale.
  38. ↑ Latta, Ruth (January 30, 2015). "Rain Shadow". Canadian Review of Materials. 21 (20) – via ProQuest.
  39. ↑ Cotter, Charis (March 8, 2021). "Birdspell". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on August 7, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  40. ↑ "A Bend in the Breeze". Kirkus Reviews. March 28, 2022. Archived from the original on July 13, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Standing on Neptune". Kirkus Reviews. March 13, 2023. Archived from the original on August 4, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  42. ↑ "An Unbalanced Force". Kirkus Reviews. September 14, 2024. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  43. ↑ Cart, Michael (October 18, 2024). "An Unbalanced Force". Booklist. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Absolutely No Body Parts". Kirkus Reviews. May 4, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  45. ↑ Peters, Joanne (September 17, 2004). "Chasing Shadows (A Shelby Belgarden Mystery)". Canadian Review of Materials. 11 (2) – via ProQuest.
  46. ↑ Luscombe, Nikki (November 6, 2023). "More than Words: Navigating the Complex World of Communication". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
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