Laurell Klein Hamilton was born in Heber Springs - Arkansas in the year 1963, it was a short time after Laurells birth when her Father left her and her Mother Suzie May Gentry Klein.  It was after Laurells father left that they moved to Sims - Indiana (A hamlet with no more than 100 people) with Laurells Grandmother Laura Gentry. A few years later when Laurell was six years old a terrible tragedy happened and Laurell lost her mother to a car accident.  Her Mother had been on her way home from work when the accident occurred, her Uncle had taken her to see the wrecked car where she can remember crawling inside it.

After Laurells Mother died, she was raised by her Grandmother and Grandfather.  Laurells Grandfather is one of the reasons he writes about Monsters, especially those such as Jean-Claude. As a child her Grandfather would help Laurell catch butterflies, but at the same time he physically abused her Grandmother. He never touched Laurell though, she loved him, and he loved her.

We should all thank Laurells Grandmother for giving her the interest in all that is strange, scary and wonderful. She would be told tales of creatures such as 'Rawhead and Bloody Bones' who will get you if you a wicked child.  When Laurell was 13 she read a book called "Pigeons from Hell" a collection of short stories.  Laurell says:

"It was the first heroic fantasy I'd read. It was fights, swords, monsters I decided not only did I want to become a writer, it was this I wanted to write"

She also found another book within her school library called "The Natural History of the Vampire" which she read so much she almost memorised it. When suggested her interest in things creepy and scary, she said simply:

"I wasn't like most girls"

And good thing to, for if she were to play with dolls like other children might, would she really be this wonderful writer that has gifted us with her stories?

Laurell now lives in St. Louis County - Missouri with her Daughter Trinity and her Husband Jonathan Green.

(Photo Credited to Lauretta Allen, and copy righted to Laurell K. Hamilton)