L. M. Elliott is the award-winning author of young adult novels, including Under a War-Torn Sky (2001), Flying South (2003), Annie Between the States (2005), Give Me Liberty (2008), and A Troubled Peace (2009), the sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky.
The author, who lives in Virginia, appears frequently at middle schools and high schools where she speaks with students about writing, research, and the value of reading about history. Her novels are historical fiction requiring the author to perform extensive research on the settings, characters, and events described. All of the author's novels fit the genre of coming of age fiction, featuring teenage protagonists encountering rites of passage. Books by the author appear in school curricula and on summer reading lists in school systems around the United States; they are available in collections at public libraries and school libraries.
Elliott has also authored five picture books for children with New York Times best-selling illustrator, Lynn Munsinger, including: Hunter’s Best Friend at School, Hunter and Stripe and the Soccer Showdown, and Hunter’s Big Sister. Their most recent illustrated book, A String of Hearts, was released in January, 2011. The author is currently featured in a series of video segments designed for educators which was produced by Washington, D.C. Public Television WETA-TV for their "Readingrockets" program, an on-line resource for educators involved in youth literacy. The author speaks about Valentine's Day, the true value of friendship, her own creative process, and also demonstrates how to make a variety of Valentines.
A long-time writer for the Washingtonian magazine, Elliott was twice a finalist for the National Magazine Award and recipient of numerous Dateline awards. She wrote often on children, women’s issues, and health. Elliott graduated from Wake Forest University and holds a master's in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.