Lois Harris grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where she spent many Saturdays at the Brooklyn Art Museum fascinated by art from around the world. Her fiction, nonfiction, and photos have appeared in Highlights, Hopscotch, Fun For Kidz, and The Friend children’s magazines.
When the author first saw Cassatt’s paintings during a 1999 Seattle Art Museum’s exhibition, she stood in awe, touched by Mary’s artwork. Then, “as I read about her extraordinary life, the idea for my story began to bubble,” she explains. On one occasion, Miss Cassatt was asked to paint a large mural for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Having previously never attempted a mural, the artist commented that “It would be great fun to do something I had never done before.” Harris believes that after reading about Mary’s life, young children will also find that any dream is possible. Although she had never written a book before, Harris thought it would be an appropriate tribute.
Harris is a member of the University of Washington Alumni, the Society of Children’s Writers and Book Illustrators in California and Washington, the Seattle Art Museum, the Western Canada Children’s Writers, and the NFforKids international email list. She also enjoys photography, boating, cooking, and occasional gardening. Harris graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing.
Lois Harris is “happily retired” and lives with her family and two cats in Anacortes, Washington, where she still enjoys visiting museums and learning about art. |
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