
Missy Hagen came to children’s book writing and illustrating after an eclectic career in fields that seemed to predict such destiny. She has a BA in Elementary Education from Cornell College, spent some years in corporate technical writing, built a popular aerobic dance program in the eighties, raising three children all before returning to college for web and graphic design. She combined her teaching, technical, and design skills as Educational Technology Director for Rochester Community and Technical College for over 10 years. When her grandson, Harrison, was born it sparked the idea for Harrison Waits based on his FOUR initials. A story focusing on the letters “H” and “W” and about how the rewards of being patient and keeping busy yield an outcome worth waiting for! Missy’s watercolor and ink artwork has often been exhibited and featured throughout southeast Minnesota where she resides with her husband.