Fiction author Julie L. Cannon died unexpectedly in her sleep Oct. 9. A resident of Watkinsville, Ga., Cannon was 50.

Earlier this year, Abingdon Press published her most recent novel, Twang, which provides a different look at the Nashville music industry.

"I am devastated by Julie's death, and I'm honored that a book she loved so much is in my care," said Abingdon Press Fiction Editor Ramona Richards. "I had a blast squiring her around Nashville as she did research for Twang, and I will miss her more than I can say."

Abingdon Press recently signed Cannon for "the book of her heart," titled Scarlett Says, to be published October 2013. The book's main character, Joan, is a young woman who writes a popular blog, offering advice based on the words of Gone With the Wind's Scarlett O'Hara.

"We are stunned and saddened to learn of Julie's death," said Pamela Clements, associate publisher of Abingdon Fiction. "We are proud that she trusted Abingdon Fiction with her work. She will be missed."

On her Facebook page, she said her personal mission was "to entertain telling stories about that universal theme—redemption."

A native of Tennessee who was raised in Athens, Ga., Cannon earned a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. She broke into fiction writing in 1998 when she won a contest sponsored by Hill Street Press, which published her first book, True Love & Homegrown Tomatoes, in 2001. Part of her award-winning "Homegrown Series," described as "Southern Fried Soul Food," the book was named by Good Housekeeping as one of "20 Books to Tote on Vacation."

Simon & Schuster then purchased the paperback rights to her debut book prior to publishing her next two novels, Those Pearly Gates (Touchstone) and Mater Biscuit (Center Point). Summerside Press published her novel I'll Be Home for Christmas in 2010.

When she was a senior at the University of Georgia in 1984, Cannon had a brush with death when she suffered a brain injury from a bike accident. Cannon is survived by her husband, Tom, and their three children.