Lauren R. Harris grew up in a military family that moved all across the United States. As a child, she read just about every book she could find, especially about American history. She became a 5th grade teacher, homeschooled her own children, and worked as a journalist and freelance writer for several publications. While researching for her first Picture Book, The Plum Neighbor, she met and interviewed World War II veteran, Kenny Higashi, and wrote his experiences in A Place for Harvest: The Story of Kenny Higashi. Lauren lives in Spokane with her husband and three children, and continues to research soldiers' stories.