I’ve been described as “a writer of social issues mysteries” and I think it fits. I’m a licensed clinical social worker and a southerner born and raised in South Carolina; these experiences resonate in my  three mystery novels: KEEPING SILENT (2001, mass market 2002), SPIDER BLUE (2005, trade paper 2006) and my latest: DEATH IN ZOOVILLE (2010).  My protagonist is Caleb Knowles, a social worker with “a delightfully dry sense of humor” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER review, 2/20/05). As a therapist, Knowles must solve mysteries of the mind; each of these novels deals with mental illness and other relevant social concerns. In DEATH IN ZOOVILLE, Caleb and his deaf brother, Sam, become entangled in the world of poverty, addiction, and homelessness.

David Marshall James, reviewer for THE STATE newspaper, writes: “Damron’s carefully constructed plot and thoughtfulness about social ills contribute to a noteworthy work. Should her mystery series command the attention it deserves, she has the talent to play on a much broader stage.” June 19, 2005.

I’ve also authored short stories that have been published in anthologies like MYSTERY ON THE WIND (2010), NAUGHTY AND NICE, THE SWEET AND SAVORY WRITINGS OF THE INKPLOTS (2004), BUCK NAKED UNITARIANS AND OTHER TALES (2003), and  INKPLOTS: RANDOM ACTS OF WRITING (2001).

I put some special research into my latest project, DEATH IN ZOOVILLE. As a social worker, I’ve dealt with homeless clients for years, but in preparation for this novel I spent some time in the local homeless shelter. I met some real characters there. Each had his own story. But the ones who pulled on my heart were the ones who had mental illness. They have struggles you and I can only begin to understand. It was really sort of humbling.

I’ve been fortunate enough to appear in numerous state and national conferences, including The Wonders of Writing, Malice Domestic, the SC Book Festival, Killer Nashville, and Murder in the Magic City. And in my “free time” (does anyone have free time anymore?) I am pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing. I still work as a social worker in mental health where my clients are– always will be— my best teachers.