Haines grew up in Lucedale, Mississippi, and graduated from high school there in 1971.

Her current mysteries are the Sarah Booth Delaney Mississippi Delta series, set in the fictional town of Zinnia.

The humorous series has won numerous accolades, including Best Amateur Sleuth.

"Hallowed Bones," the fifth in the series, was named in the top five mysteries of 2004 by Library Journal.

She has written under the pseudonyms Caroline Burnes in romantic mysteries, and Lizzie Hart in humor.