Doris Garst was born July 24, 1894, in Ironwood, Michigan. She became a teacher and school principal, but quickly turned to writing full-time after her first book, "The Story of Wyoming," was published in 1938. She published under the name Shannon Garst (Shannon was her step-father's surname) because the publisher of her first book didn't believe anyone would read a Western-themed book written by a woman. She lived with her family, including her husband, attorney Joseph Garst, in Douglas, Wyoming. She co-authored three books with her son, Warren Garst. The children's reading room at the Converse County, Wyoming, library is named for her. link: source