Gifted author, illustrator and "connector", Marianne Richmond has touched the lives of millions over the past 15 years through her uplifting books, greeting cards, and gift products. Her colorful creations are sold worldwide - from independent gift shops to mass merchants such as Target, Kohl's, and Toys "R" Us.

In an era of consolidation among companies, Marianne is a notable success story as the sole writer and artist of her company's extensive award-winning book offering. Her track record underscores her rare ability to help people connect through her messages and artwork - and her book sales prove it.

Since her start in 1991 with just 20 greeting cards, she has been guided by her passion for creating products that offer "the most heartfelt way to connect." To that end, she has penned more than 1,000 greeting cards and developed a wide range of sentiment-driven gift products for various manufacturers. When asked where her ideas come from, she says, "I try to be in tune with people's life circumstances. What can I create to help make life a little more memorable, meaningful or more fun?"

She balances her creative life with a busy home life as well, happily settled in Minneapolis, MN with her husband, four spirited children, and one beloved Border Collie named Clay.