LaVerne McLeod, a current resident of Big Sur since 1979, has lived in various community settings including Arkansas, Missouri, Palo Alto and Esalen Institute. She has a long list of leadership involvement with community organizations and activities. McLeod has multiple experiences dealing with racism, desegregation and social change. These include KKK violence in her childhood community and integrating a small town school in Missouri at age fourteen. Her writings indirectly reflect some of her childhood farm experiences during the rise of the Civil Rights Movement. As a wife, mother, artist and former educator, LaVerne weaves insight and fascination into her writings. Although Corn Hollow is written in a fictitious manner with elaboration and adornment, these qualities are also found in various forms of her creative world. In Corn Hollow, LaVerne uses the power of storytelling to bring people together and offer healing and understanding of a complicated moment in American history. The author holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master of Arts in Counselor Education from Southeast Missouri State University with continuing education work from San Jose State University in California.