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Valerie Nieman

Goodreads Author

Born

in Jamestown, NY, The United States

Website

http://www.valnieman.com

Twitter

valnieman

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Influences

Hilary Mantel,Ray Bradbury, Margaret Atwood, Rachel Carson, Edgar Alla ...more

Member Since

January 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/valnieman

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Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths, is the first of two novels about the rise of Scotland in the 11th century and the historical Macbeths who shaped it. Deeply researched, it has a speculative element in the creation of an ancient goddess religion. “Steeped in the myth, mystery, politics, and culture of Celtic Scotland, Upon the Corner of the Moon presents the world of the young Lady Macbeth and Macbeth with authenticity, a deft hand, and a poet’s voice,” says Susan Fraser King, author of Lady Macbeth: A Novel.

Dead Hand, the sequel to To the Bones, a genre-bending folk horror/mystery set in coal country that was shortlisted for both the Manly Wade Wellman Award and the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award. Available in p Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths, is the first of two novels about the rise of Scotland in the 11th century and the historical Macbeths who shaped it. Deeply researched, it has a speculative element in the creation of an ancient goddess religion. “Steeped in the myth, mystery, politics, and culture of Celtic Scotland, Upon the Corner of the Moon presents the world of the young Lady Macbeth and Macbeth with authenticity, a deft hand, and a poet’s voice,” says Susan Fraser King, author of Lady Macbeth: A Novel.

Dead Hand, the sequel to To the Bones, a genre-bending folk horror/mystery set in coal country that was shortlisted for both the Manly Wade Wellman Award and the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award. Available in print and e-book on Amazon.
"...a hard-fought battle, from West Virginia to Ireland, for a future free from legacies of pain and plunder. Nieman crafts a richly atmospheric folk horror tale with a thumping heart of environmental justice; like Manly Wade Wellman for a new generation.”—Meagan Lucas, author of Songbirds and Stray Dogs and Here in the Dark

In the Lonely Backwater received the 2022 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for the best book of fiction by a North Carolina writer. Past recipients include Jason Mott, Lee Smith, Allen Gurganus, Charles Frazier et al. The book also was named winner in the Mystery/Suspense category of the American Writing Awards and was a finalist at Foreword Reviews.
The novel is "a page-turning psychological thriller" and "an intricate and intriguing work of art." With a style both Southern Gothic and realist, and its deep immersion in nature, the novel appeals to lovers of suspense and YA reader alike. "Nieman achieves a suspenseful narrative full of compassion, haunting, and desire, and instruction about the power of storytelling" wrote another reviewer.

My most recent poetry book, "Leopard Lady: A Life in Verse," is set in a mid-century carnival sideshow and features poems that have appeared in The Missouri Review, Chautauqua, and other journals. More than 15 years of writing -- and a week of study at Coney Island Museum -- went into telling the story of Dinah and The Professor.

My first novel, Neena Gathering, a post-apocalyptic tale set in West Virginia, was reissued as a classic in the genre, and is also available on Audible.

I've been a doughnut-maker, farmer, reporter, sailor, professor, and always, a walker and observer. All my experiences find their way into my work, from memories of high school drama to a visit to the working face of a coal mine to the insights gleaned from working the police beat at a small-town newspaper.

I have held grants from the NEA, North Carolina and West Virginia arts councils. I earned degrees from West Virginia University and Queens University of Charlotte.

Follow me on Facebook @valerienieman1, and on Instagram and Twitter @valnieman. My Youtube channel has reading videos and more. ...more

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Valerie Nieman’s books

Average rating: 4.07 · 387 ratings · 101 reviews · 20 distinct works • Similar authors

	In the Lonely Backwater 3.90 avg rating — 112 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	To the Bones really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 64 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Blood Clay 3.97 avg rating — 35 ratings — published 2011 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths (Book One of Alba) 4.52 avg rating — 21 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Leopard Lady 4.55 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2018	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wake Wake Wake 4.27 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2006 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fidelities 4.56 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2004 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Survivors: A Novel 4.43 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2000 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hotel Worthy 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths (Book One of Alba) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Valerie Nieman's Blog: A little literary love note

Mom and me

My mother would have been 89 on April 10.
Eleanor, always known as “Lee,” died in 2012, shortly after I thought I’d completed In the Lonely Backwater. I was staying that summer with my parents near Wilmington, in the midst of a divorce, helping out as my mother’s long struggle with diabetes entered a new and, though we did not yet know it, final phase.

In the Lonely Backwater by Valerie Nieman

I hammered away at a little “netbook” at Read more of this blog post »

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Published on April 11, 2022 07:06 • Tags: mother, mystery, writing

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Valerie rated a book it was amazing Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths (Book One of Alba) by Valerie Nieman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 15, 2026 05:28AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Upon the Corner of the Moon by Valerie Nieman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Upon the Corner of the Moon by Valerie Nieman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Valerie and 1 other person liked Judith Turner-Yamamoto's review of Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths (Book One of Alba): "With Upon the Corner of the Moon, Valerie Nieman breathes vivid new life into the legend of Macbeth, peeling back centuries of myth to reveal the flesh-and-blood figures who once shaped Scotland’s fate. Immersive, meticulously researched, and deeply " Read more of this review »
Jun 15, 2026 05:26AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Upon the Corner of the Moon by Valerie Nieman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Upon the Corner of the Moon by Valerie Nieman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Valerie liked Cassie Bustamante's review of Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths (Book One of Alba): "This one took me a little while to get into, but once I was in, that was it! Valeries prose is stunning and fitting of the era she writes about. Not knowing anything about Macbeth, other than what I learned and long forgot from the Shakespeare play, " Read more of this review »
Jun 15, 2026 05:26AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Upon the Corner of the Moon by Valerie Nieman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Upon the Corner of the Moon by Valerie Nieman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Valerie liked Matthew Minicucci's review of Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths (Book One of Alba): "Link to my review from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette (Sunday, March 9th): https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/books... Full text below: About halfway through “Upon the Corner of the Moon” the character of Macbeth — who should be considered a slightly differe" Read more of this review »
Jun 15, 2026 05:26AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Upon the Corner of the Moon by Valerie Nieman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Upon the Corner of the Moon by Valerie Nieman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Valerie is now following Matthew Minicucci Author of Translation
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Quotes by Valerie Nieman (?)

“The TV cycled through soap operas and judge shows and talk shows. Like they were part of the TV, the adults went around and around the same topics: who was sick, got the cancer, probably from smoking, no it was black lung, well he’s just a-wasting away, who’s out of work, who’s got work, who’s knocked up, what happened to Tony, his momma would roll over in her grave, bail bond, wops’ll take care of their own, put up the place, when’s the trial? Sometimes”
― Valerie Nieman, In the Lonely Backwater

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“wondered how people could live where the land around them was being torn up and reshaped all the time. I wondered how the mountains even stayed standing, with the insides being pulled out. Turned out we weren’t heading to Fairmont.”
― Valerie Nieman, In the Lonely Backwater

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“So I don’t have any family. I do, in a physical, genetic sense, but not in the way of having people that you go see at holidays. Cousins that you roll around with and play Wiffle ball with and torment.”
― Valerie Nieman, In the Lonely Backwater

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