Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Conference 2026

Longtime children's author, artist, and mental health professional Marianne Richmond has touched the lives of millions over the past three decades through her beloved picture books. In 1997, while recovering from brain surgery for epilepsy, she wrote and illustrated her first book, The Gift of an Angel, to honor the various "earth angels" she encountered throughout her own health journey. What started as a personal healing project blossomed into a thriving publishing company she co-ran with her husband, Jim, for 16 years before partnering with Sourcebooks, Inc., the largest woman-owned independent publisher in North America.  

Having navigated 15 years of seizures before her own life-changing surgery, she deeply understands the medical trauma and complex emotions that come with this path. She now uses her experience to help others explore how our brains and bodies process our stories, to help people reclaim their truest selves through creativity and connection.