Mignon F. Ballard Books In Order

Publication Order of Augusta Goodnight Books

Publication Order of Miss Dimple Kilpatrick Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Children's Books

Mignon F. Ballard is an American author that writes Mystery novels with a Southern tinge to them.

+Biography

Mignon F. Ballard was born in 1934 in a small Georgian town. Mignon would be lying if she said that she knew she would be an author from the very beginning. However, there were plenty of reasons for her to expect as much.

Mignon believes that her affinity for ghost stories emanates from the fact that she was born just two days before Halloween. Of course, the fact that the family lived so close to a funeral home might have had more to do with Mignon’s mindset.

Mignon had the benefit of having a sister and friends who also enjoyed ghost stories and storytelling general. The group spent an unhealthy amount of time in the town cemetery, hanging out on the steps of a marble mausoleum, eating sandwiches and scaring one another silly.

Mignon always elicited a thrill from being scared as a child. Of course, that thrill did not immediately translate into a desire to write. But it helped that Mignon F. Ballard’s mother and grandmother were writers.

Her grandmother had even written a novel, though it wasn’t published. Her parents’ approach to teaching Mignon important lessons, especially warnings about certain dangers, was to tell her stories about all the people they knew who had suffered because they couldn’t heed the necessary warnings. It also helped that they read to her on a daily basis.

Mignon’s hold to fame is the litany of mystery novels she has written since 1978. Mignon’s work has plenty of traditional southern themes. The author also injects a lot of southern humor into her work.

This results from Mignon’s upbringing, specifically the fact that she grew up in a town so small that everyone knew everyone else. Mignon has spent most of her life immersed in the elements of the South and that experience comes through in everything she writes.

Mignon understands that the South is more than just a geographical location. The South stands apart because of the variety of people that inhabit its landmass, the colorful speech that has evolved over the years and the rich heritage, not to mention the strong bonds of the numerous families that have lived in the South for generations.

Mignon’s determination to write uplifting stories can be imputed to the fact that she grew up during World War II. In fact, the author doesn’t remember a point in her childhood when the war wasn’t going on.

Despite the tragedies happening overseas, Mignon found that everyone around her was determined to remain upbeat and to keep laughing. This attitude rubbed off of Mignon whose books are filled with characters that refuse to be beaten by negative circumstances.

Because Mignon F. Ballard has been writing Mystery fiction for such a long time, people forget that she has a degree in Journalism from UGA. Mignon’s experience as a journalist has proven instrumental in her writing career. Being a journalist taught her to avoid redundancies and clichés.

She also learned the importance of hooking readers from the very start and to utilize a direct and straightforward writing style. Interestingly enough, many of Mignon F. Ballard’s ideas come from the newspapers.

There is always something in print media that will spark unexpected ideas in the author’s mind. Though, the author isn’t restricted to newspapers as a source of inspiration. Mignon has admitted that she can be inspired by anything, from the lyric of a song to an old letter.

Mignon was initially influenced by the Nancy Drew novels to write Mystery Fiction. Eventually she grew too old to enjoy the books and graduated to Agatha Christie.

Mignon F. Ballard is a recipient of the Agatha Christie Society Styles Award.

Mignon has a husband and two children.

+Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause

It’s 1943 and the war is still raging abroad; the town of Elderberry in Georgia is gearing up for the Bond Rally. The Bond Rally is purposed to provide support for the American troops fighting in the war.

Miss Dimple Kilpatrick is a first-grade teacher that cannot wait to play her part in the Rally. Everything seems to be in place for a successful Bond Rally. Virginia, Miss Dimple’s friend and chair of the event is certain that everything will go according to plan.

But then a skeleton is found in a field and Buddy Oglesby disappears. Miss Dimple and her colleagues take it upon themselves to solve the case.

The first book in the ‘Miss Dimple Kilpatrick’ series introduces the little town of Elderberry to readers. Virginia is Miss Dimple’s friend, and it is her job to prepare for the upcoming Bond Rally. Virginia is forced to bring Buddy Oglesby onboard and she isn’t relishing the idea of working with him, not only because Buddy is a bit of a drifter but also the fact that his aunt is a little too tyrannical for everyone’s tastes.

When Miss Dimple’s colleague discovers the remains of a person, tensions rise. The remains are identified as belonging to Cynthia Murphy, a woman that went missing some years back. Even with Cynthia’s reputation, it is difficult to believe that anyone would want to kill her.

When Miss Dimple notices that her friend Phoebe is acting strange, she begins to question whether or not her situation might be connected to Cynthia’s death. Readers might be surprised by the rapid pacing of this book.

Mignon F. Ballard wastes no time in initiating the central mystery and throwing Miss Dimple on the case.

+Angel at Troublesome Creek

Mary George Murphy is heartbroken when her aunt dies from a disturbing fall down a flight of steps. And she isn’t sure that the fall was an accident. Fortunately for Mary, she isn’t alone in trying to figure this mystery out.

Mary has a guardian Angel, a woman who died in the Second World War and who has now returned to help Mary when she is most desperate.

The first book in the ‘Augusta Goodnight’ series introduces readers to Mary George Murphy, a woman suffering a bit of misfortune. Not only did she lose her job and her fiancé but Mary’s Aunt Caroline has just died.

When Mary begins to doubt the nature of Caroline’s death, her guardian angel shows up and encourages her to investigate.

One Response to “Mignon F. Ballard”

1. Beth Gentry Mannle: 1 year ago

   Love reading these books and super proud to know she’s an Alpha Delta Po.

   L.,
   Beth G. Mannle
   Former Grand President

   Reply