Payne Erskine

Emma Payne Erskine was born on May 10, 1854, in Racine, Wisconsin, and wrote under the name Payne Erskine. She became known for novels and stories published around the turn of the 20th century, including The Mountain Girl and The Eye of Dread. Contemporary reference sources note that her fiction often centered on strong women, which helps explain why her work still feels lively and distinctive.

Beyond writing, she is also remembered as a painter and civic-minded figure with a strong connection to Tryon, North Carolina. Local historical sources describe her as an important part of the town’s cultural life, helping build the kind of artistic and literary community for which Tryon later became known.

Though not widely read today, Payne Erskine was a successful author in her own time, and her books remain of interest to readers who enjoy regional fiction, romance, and rediscovered women writers from the American South and Midwest.