Laura Dower has written more than ninety books for young readers of all ages--from picture books to young adult fiction and nonfiction--and is the author of the popular series From the Files of Madison Finn. Laura was born in Massachusetts, and graduated from Columbia University. After a procession of odd jobs--babysitting, waitressing, coffee-making, switchboard-operating--she worked in children's publishing for many years before becoming a full-time author. She lives in Yonkers, New York with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she is a Cub Scout den leader and Girl Scout Brownie troop co-leader.