Lorraine Penny McLoughlin grew up on a farm in the South East of South Australia, an experience which shaped her interests and approaches to life. She began her working life as a teacher, both in Australia and overseas, before moving to a variety of public administration and political positions in Adelaide, mainly in education, the arts and economic development, often involving rural communities. Since retiring, she has taken a lead in the establishment of an arts festival and literary events in her new district of Yankalilla, South Australia. In her previous biographies of Barbara Robertson, George Tetlow and the Pearses, all local residents at the time of writing, she reveals her love of art and her passion to honour the stories of creative people.