Ma Dear's Aprons by Patricia C. McKissack

At the time of his death, Fredrick had said that they worked very well together, and that their partnership was as strong as ever. Patricia and her husband Fredrick worked and published over 100 books together, 20 years in the making. They worked together to make manuscripts that suited them both, and together they aimed to make history come alive in their stories for children.

Fredrick was the researcher of the pair, while Patricia mostly wrote up the research. One of their goals as a couple was to introduce children to African-American history and the historical figures that went along with it. Her husband, Fredrick McKissack also then became interested in writing and researching for non-fiction books. Louis, where she started a writing service. Patricia did not want to shorten her manuscript at all but finally shortened it to six pages, when it was finally accepted. Schwartz threw the manuscript aside, saying it was too long. Flossie & the Fox was sent to Ann Schwartz, who was an editor at Dial Press. She spent considerable time writing 20 non-fiction books before she wrote her first picture book. She wrote mostly non-fiction and focused on issues such as racism. In 1975, Patricia McKissack began her professional writing career. She went on to write many more biographies. Her first book was a biography of Paul Lawrence Dunbar, her mother's favorite poet. Patricia became a junior high-school English teacher but in 1971 realized that she wanted to be an author. They were married in 1965 and started their family right away.

She graduated with an English degree while Fredrick obtained a civil engineering degree. While attending the Tennessee State University, Patricia met up with a childhood friend, Fredrick McKissack, who would later become her husband. The characters in these stories were always smart and brave, characteristics present in Patricia's later works. Her father's stories usually included the names of her and siblings Nolan and Sarah. She was inspired to be a writer by her mother who always read her poetry and also by her grandparents who told her many stories.

Patricia L'Ann McKissack was born to civil servant parents Robert and Erma Carwell on August 9, 1944, in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Ma Dear's Aprons by Patricia C. McKissack