Mary Eccles grew up in the Midwest, where her book, By Lizzie, takes place. After graduating from Harvard University, she worked as a journalist for The Washington Star, The New Republic, and Congressional Quarterly. She received a doctorate in public policy from Harvard, then spent several years working on Capitol Hill. Before leaving government in 1995, she worked in the U.S. Department of Labor as a legislative and economic advisor to former Secretary Robert B. Reich. Her stories have appeared in Fine Print and received an award from the Antietam Review. Ms. Eccles is currently writing a second children's novel.