Heather Henson was born and raised in Danville, Kentucky, a small town in the heart of the Bluegrass. She grew up in a summerstock theater her father founded in 1950. As a girl she dreamed of becoming an actress, but after moving to New York City to attend the Eugene Lang College of the New School for Social Research, she found herself drawn to books and writing. “Books and stories were always a huge part of my life,” Ms. Henson says. “My mother read to me every night and my father told me ‘one minute stories’ before I fell asleep.” For many years, Ms. Henson lived in Brooklyn, NY and worked as an editor of books for young readers at HarperCollins Publishers. She recently returned to her home state in order to focus on her own writing, which has always been strongly influenced by her Kentucky roots. She is the author of several picture books, including That Book Woman, illustrated by Caldecott-Medal winner David Small and winner of the prestigious Christopher Medal. Her novels for teens and middle grade readers include Making the Run, a NY Public Library Book for the Teen Age, Here’s How I See It/Here’s How It Is, a Bank Street Best Book of 2010, and most recently, Dream of Night, a finalist for the Maryland Black Eyed Susan Award.
Ms. Henson now lives on a farm near Danville with her husband, Tim Ungs, a son, Daniel and twins, Lila and Theo.