Anne Emery is a distinguished Canadian author, best known for her mystery novels. She has written numerous books that have captivated readers and critics alike. Emery's work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the silver medal in the 2011 Independent Publisher Book Awards and the 2011 Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction for her novel "Children in the Morning." Moreover, she was the recipient of the 2007 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel for her debut, "Sign of the Cross."
Emery, who was born Anne Eleanor McGuigan in Fargo, North Dakota, spent her formative years in Evanston, Illinois, after moving there at the age of nine. She pursued her education at Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. Following her graduation from college, Emery's father, a university professor, took his family on a year-long journey to various countries, including Northern Ireland, France, Switzerland, Italy, and the British Isles. Emery spent nine months studying at the University of Grenoble in France, an experience that would later influence her writing.
Before becoming a full-time author, Emery taught for ten years in the Evanston Schools, teaching seventh and eighth-grade students. She continued to teach after her marriage to John Emery, taking on fourth and fifth-grade classes for six more years. Emery eventually retired from teaching to focus on her writing and care for her husband and five children, Mary, Kate, Joan, Robert, and Martha.
In addition to her mystery novels, Emery is also known for her books and short stories for teenage girls, which she wrote throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Her understanding of the lives of teenaged girls and her ability to create believable stories and characters have made her work popular and enduring. Emery's writing has left a lasting impact on Canadian literature, and her books continue to be read and re-read by fans of all ages.