Valerie Sherrard's first novel, Out of the Ashes, introduced the Shelby Belgarden Mysteries, and was a 2003 Red Maple Honour Book and a nominee for the Arthur Ellis Award for Juvenile Fiction. It was followed by the second volume in the series, In Too Deep (2003). In addition to the Shelby mysteries, Valerie is the author of Kate (2003). She lives in Miramichi, New Brunswick, with her husband, Brent.