Merritt takes inspiration from her childhood in Double Springs for mystery series

DOUBLE SPRINGS  - When one thinks of Double Springs, the first thought typically isn’t of murder and mayhem.  Those are not the first thoughts of Double Springs native Sarah Crumpton Merritt has, either, but they have been added into the mix for her delightful new mystery series, which definitely draws inspiration from Merritt’s hometown.
“Potluck and Pandemonium” is the debut novel in Merritt’s debut mystery series, titled the Sweetwater Springs Southern Mysteries.  The novel, which came out in January, is quickly being followed by a follow-up novel, “Lakefronts and Larceny”, which will be available beginning tomorrow, March 12.
Merritt is enjoying adding the title of published author to her resume.
“It feels really good. Surreal, really. Writing was something that really never crossed my mind. You hear from so many authors that it's their lifelong dream to publish a book, but I just kind of fell into it. Mine was a hobby that has turned into a passion that I hope someday, will become a profession,”  Merritt said.
The daughter of Becky Crumpton and a 1979 graduate of Winston County High School, Merritt did not set out in life to become an author.  After graduating from what was then known as Walker College in 1981, she traveled for over a year with a Christian music group called Sound of Joy, visiting almost every state and even touring overseas.  Next, she attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, majoring in fashion merchandising and marketing.  It was there that she met her husband, Vic Merritt.
“We were married in 1983 and moved to Shreveport, La. Our son, Nick was born there. In 1987, we moved to Grenada, Miss., where our daughter, Rachel was born,”  Sarah said.  Her children are now grown and married.  Nick and his wife, Kristen, live in Irvine, Calif. and Rachel and her husband, Erich, live in New Orleans.
Sarah - who goes by the pen name of S.C. Merritt - has worked as a church secretary for 25 years and is currently serving as the youth, college and recreation ministry assistant at Longview Heights Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Miss., where she and her husband have resided since 1994.