birth_place nationality birth_date genre article_title authorlink name occupation
topeka , kansas , united states american 12 september 1956 creative nonfiction , literary fiction , memoir karen salyer mcelmurray
 http://www.karenmcelmurray.com/ karen salyer mcelmurray writer
karen salyer mcelmurray

karen salyer mcelmurray -lrb- born 1956 , topeka , kansas -rrb- is an american writer of literary fiction , creative nonfiction , and memoir .
she is the author of `` the motel of the stars : a novel '' -lrb- sarabande books , 2008 -rrb- , `` surrendered child : a birth mother 's journey '' -lrb- university of georgia press , 2006 -rrb- , and `` strange birds in the tree of heaven '' -lrb- university of georgia press , 2004 -rrb- , as well as numerous essays and short stories .
mcelmurray was editor 's pick by oxford american in november 2009 .
she was the recipient of the awp award for creative nonfiction -lrb- 2003 -rrb- , and the lillie chaffin award for appalachian writing -lrb- 2001 -rrb- .
