Laurel Stikeleather Ramey was born in 1968 in Arcadia, Florida to the late L. H. Stikeleather and Sonja Coker Stikeleather. This is where she spent most of her early childhood. The family ventured north to Valdosta, Georgia where she began her education and where her three children were born. Her journey continued north to the mountains of Rabun County, Georgia where she continued her education before moving to Kettle Falls in Northeastern Washington state. However, ultimately her family needed her, so she traveled back east. She now lives in Macon County, North Carolina where she completed her education in Human Services and Substance Abuse Counseling. She enjoys spending time with her family; her mother, sister, brother, three adult children and seven grandchildren. She loves most of all exploring the beauty of nature with her beloved husband, Michael, without whom she wouldn't have found the freedom to paint her paintings and write her first book.