Marianne Mitchell grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. Today she lives in the foothills of Tucson. 

Marianne is a former elementary teacher, but now writes for kids full time. Her first story was published in Guide Magazine in 1992. She has since published more than eighty stories and articles in children's magazines, including Jack and Jill, New Moon, Pockets, and Highlights for Children. 

Many of her short stories are available in a series of anthologies called Stories from Highlights. Her writing has earned three awards from the editors at Highlights. Recently, she began writing the magazine's regular feature, "The Bear Family." 

Marianne’s new book, Firebug, is a mystery for children set in Sedona and will be released in spring 2004. She is also the author of Gullywasher Gulch, Finding Zola, Maya Moon, and other titles. Finding Zola was a 2003 Southwest Book of the Year.

Marianne thinks writing stories is the best job she's ever had. But what she enjoys most is talking with kids about books and encouraging them to write their own stories.