C.C. Payne

C. C. Payne was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, by a family chock-full of superb storytellers: readers, writers, teachers, librarians and lawyers – yes, Payne insists that any lawyer worth his salt knows how to tell a good, persuasive story! Growing up,she says, all kinds of stories were used, to quiet, to entertain, and to teach life lessons, but all stories worked to instill a love of the story – any story.

"Naturally, at the age of seven," Payne says, "I became a voracious reader. After that,the house could’ve fallen down around my ears, and I would’ve just thought, 'Does this mean I have to put my book down?'"

Payne's first novel, Something to Sing About, received a boxed, starred review from Booklist, was named one of the Top Ten Best by Booklist, was nominated for a Children’s Crown Award, and a Kentucky Bluegrass Award.

Her second novel, Lula Bell on Geekdom, Freakdom & the Challenges of Bad Hair, was released by Amazon Children's Publishing on October 2, 2012. Payne says she would describe Lula Bell… as a story about life and death, family and friendship, faith and forgiveness, fitting in and standing out, and above all, letting your light shine – letting it light up the dark!

Meanwhile, as she continues to write, Payne says that she's beginning to notice that all her books are like her: hopeful, humorous, and distinctly southern. To learn more, visit www.ccpayne.net .