CLS: Marianne Richmond | Author

From Brain Tumor to Bestselling Children’s Book Author 

Join bestselling author Marianne Richmond on Thursday, July 7 from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. in the Orchestra Hall to learn about how she self-published her first book after brain surgery and later went on to write and illustrate more than 70 titles, selling nine million copies of children’s books.

At 9 years old, Marianne Richmond had her first epileptic seizure. There would be countless more until the cause was finally determined in her 20s: a benign brain tumor. Complicating her journey was her mother who, because of her own trauma, didn’t allow Richmond to have medication to control her seizures. It was during her recovery from brain surgery when she started painting cards for her well-wishers and wrote and self-published her first book. Since then, the prolific author has gone on to write and illustrate more than 70 titles and sell nine million copies of her beloved books that help people share their heart and connect with those they love. “I write for the unique everybody,” says Richmond. “Although our stories are different, our feelings are a lot the same.”

A bestselling author, Marianne Richmond has touched the lives of millions over the past two decades through her children’s books that help people share their hearts and connect with those they love. Richmond started her publishing journey in her early 20s while recovering from brain surgery to remove a benign tumor, the cause of numerous childhood epileptic seizures. Bored and bald, she began painting simple thank-you cards to pass the time and wrote and self-published her first book. This creative diversion blossomed into a successful book publishing company she co-ran for 16 years with her husband, Jim. In 2010, Richmond closed her business and partnered with Sourcebooks Inc., the largest female-owned publisher in North America with whom she still works today. Her books are found worldwide, and she is a frequent speaker at schools, conferences, and events.