Olive Ann Burns was born in Banks County on July 17, 1924. During the Great Depression her father was forced to sell his farm and the family moved to Commerce, Georgia. Mrs. Burns earned a major in journalism from the University of North Carolina and worked for the Atlanta Journal. She wrote under the pseudonym "Amy Larkin".
In 1971 she began writing down family stories told to her by her parents .In 1975 after being diagnosed with lymphoma, she used the family stories to write a novel that became Cold Sassy Tree. The novel was published in 1984.
Cold Sassy Tree was based on the town of Harmony Grove, now Commerce. It was set in 1905-1906 and follows the life of Will Tweedy. The novel was adapted into a TV movie in 1989. Mrs. Burns passed away in 1990. Her uncompleted follow-up novel, Leaving Cold Sassy was published in 1992.
Olive Ann Burns is only one of many successful people from Banks County.
In 1971 she began writing down family stories told to her by her parents .In 1975 after being diagnosed with lymphoma, she used the family stories to write a novel that became Cold Sassy Tree. The novel was published in 1984.
Cold Sassy Tree was based on the town of Harmony Grove, now Commerce. It was set in 1905-1906 and follows the life of Will Tweedy. The novel was adapted into a TV movie in 1989. Mrs. Burns passed away in 1990. Her uncompleted follow-up novel, Leaving Cold Sassy was published in 1992.
Olive Ann Burns is only one of many successful people from Banks County.
