About Carolyn Virginia Parnell
About
Carolyn Virginia Parnell
Carolyn Virginia Parnell is an author, poet, and speaker whose storytelling is as fearless as it is faith-filled. Born and raised in Selma, Alabama—a city steeped in both Civil Rights history and personal legacy—Carolyn’s voice is shaped by generations of strength, struggle, and spiritual truth.
Raised by her grandmother, she learned early on the values of love, dignity, and hard work. Whether she was ironing clothes for relatives at twelve or caring for children in her neighborhood, Carolyn’s life was built on compassion and resilience. These themes echo through every page of her writing.
Her debut novel, The Ghost of Bertha Mae, dives deep into the complexities of generational trauma, spiritual warfare, and emotional survival. Though fictional, the story draws heavily from real-life truths. Like her protagonist Yvette, Carolyn left the South as a teen and forged a new path in Seattle, grounded in community, faith, and healing.
Carolyn’s prose is known for its emotional honesty and lyrical flow, a reflection of her background in poetry. Her work is spiritual without being preachy, gothic without being grim—woven with horror, hope, and hard-earned wisdom. She writes not just to entertain, but to uplift and awaken.
Her story has been featured in America Inspire Magazine, where she was recognized as a powerful new voice in Southern Gothic fiction. Hollywood Book Reviews praised her debut for blending mystery, horror, and real-life struggles in a way that feels both intimate and universal.
With several books already written and more in the works, Carolyn’s storytelling journey is far from over. She continues to write with purpose and passion, inspiring others to embrace their truths and never give up.
“Life can be difficult, but if you have faith and you pray, you will come through it stronger.”
Carolyn writes to heal, to challenge, and to remind us all: even in the darkest places, light can break through.