Biography

Charlotte Hinger grew up on a farm in Lone Elm, Kansas. She spent her childhood listening to the world-class story-tellers and natural born liars who populated this tiny community. Her father influenced her life-long interest in Kansas history, and her mother's matchless insight in people's motivations set the stage for her bent toward writing mystery stories.

Charlotte attended Kansas State University before marrying Don Hinger. They have three daughters. She recently acquired a master's degree in history from Fort Hays State University. Her thesis was "African American Activists: The Pioneer Politicians of Nicodemus, Kansas, 1877-1880." She has completed a novel on Nicodemus, Kansas and is expanding her thesis for submission to a university press.

After publishing several short stories in national magazines, and editing a two volume county history project, she completed her first novel, Come Spring. It was published in hardcover by Simon and Schuster, Warner Books in paperback, condensed by Reader's Digest and published in UK and Norway. Come Spring won the Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award in the Spur Award Competition sponsored by Western Writer's of America (WWA). She subsequently published a number of mystery short stories and articles. Her short story, "The Family Rose," first published in the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine was later included in two anthologies, Murder to Music and Death on the Verandah.

Charlotte lives with her husband outside of Hoxie, Kansas, a town that is peculiarly well-suited to the writing life. It has fabulous internet service and few distractions.

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Membership

Kansas State Historical Society

KSHSThe legendary state newspaper holdings of the KSHS are awesome. The Society's research collections contain more than 5 miles of printed materials, more than 7 miles of Kansas government archives and manuscript materials, 25,000 maps, approximately 500,000 photographs, and more than 50,000 reels of microfilm.

Mystery Writers of America

MWA is the premier organization for mystery writers and professionals allied with the crime writing field. Its prestigious Edgar awards (named after Edgar Allen Poe) honor winners in different categories of crime writing.

Sheridan County Historical Society

SCHS is a truly professional county-based society dedicated to locating and preserving local history. Sheridan County's creative history books were totally designed and produced by local residents. Charlotte edited these volumes. The family stories and articles contributed to her grounding in historical accuracy praised by reviewers.

Sisters In Crime

SinC promotes the professional advancement of women who write mysteries. Not a group to antagonize!

Western History Association

WHA promotes the study of the North American West and is especially appealing to academics and those interested in scholarly pursuits.

Western Writers of America

WWA is one of the oldest writing groups and an ultra-friendly organization of fiction and non-fiction writers fanatically dedicated to the American West. Their works range from very literary books with a number of Pulitzer Prize winners inducted into their Hall of fame to traditional westerns and contributions to academic journals. Their coveted Spur Awards honor the finest in a variety of categories.

Women Writing the West

WWW is a group of professionals writing about the contributions of women to our American heritage. Their work ranges from historical fiction to academic contributions expressed in variety of categories. Their year culminates in the presentation of the Willa Award, named in honor of Willa Cather.