Sharon Kay Penman (August 13, 1945 – January 22, 2021) was a renowned American historical novelist, known in the UK as Sharon Penman. She gained fame for her Welsh Princes Trilogy and the Plantagenet series. Additionally, she authored four medieval mysteries, with her first, The Queen's Man, being a finalist for the 1996 Best First Mystery Edgar Award.

Her novels and mysteries are set in England, France, and Wales, focusing on English and Welsh royalty during the Middle Ages. Her debut novel, The Sunne in Splendour, is a stand-alone piece about King Richard III of England and the Wars of the Roses. Despite having the manuscript stolen, she persevered and rewrote the book.

Penman's work was generally well-received and her later novels reached the New York Times Bestseller List. Critics have lauded her meticulous research of settings and events, as well as her character development. She pursued history at the University of Texas at Austin, earned a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University School of Law, and worked as a tax lawyer.

Penman passed away from pneumonia on January 22, 2021, at the age of 75.