A North Carolinian author has reached the New York Times Best Sellers list for the first time with her seventh book ‘Under the Southern Sky’.

“Honestly, it was one of the top five best days in my whole life,” said Kristy Woodson Harvey, author of ‘Under the Southern Sky’.

While Harvey is originally from Salisbury, and now lives in Beaufort, she once called Kinston her home. She went to UNC-Chapel Hill Journalism School for college and got her master’s degree in English at ECU. Her first book, which came out in 2015, ‘Dear Carolina’ was set in Kinston.

“I love this book,” said Harvey. “I felt like it was a story I was supposed to write. There were nudges and signs along the way. When you hope, you keep getting better.”

In October, Harvey’s fourth book in her Beaufort-based Peach Tree Bluff series will be released called ‘Christmas in Peach Tree Bluff’. Her 2022 novel ‘The Wedding Veil’, a historical novel surrounding the wedding veil of Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt.

“I couldn't have done this without all the support my fans provided,” said Harvey. “From getting excited about ‘Under the Southern Sky’, pre-ordering, telling all your friends, and showing up for virtual and live events- you helped me achieve a dream today. And I will be forever grateful!”

Under the Southern Sky is a story of friendship and love. A recently separated journalist makes a heart-wrenching discovery involving an old friend. Harvey’s other titles include the Peach Tree Bluff series; ‘Slightly South of Simple’, ‘The Secret to Southern Charm’, and ‘The Southern Side of Paradise’. Other novels include ‘Feels Like Falling’, ‘Lies and Other Acts of Love’, and ‘Dear Carolina’.

“There are so many incredible books that never hit a bestsellers list,” said Harvey. “It’s very exciting.”