Frances Nail was born in Memphis, Texas, in 1924. She studied journalism and art at Texas Tech University—and almost graduated. She holds a degree from the Art School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (now the Glassell School of Art).

Nail has been called by the Writers’ League of Texas the “accidental writer.” When she began, at age seventy, to write stories about her childhood for her family, she accidentally wrote a book. Her first book, Crow in the House, Wolf at the Door, was a finalist for the Violet Crown Award, presented by the Writers’ League and Barnes & Noble.

Nail has been a featured writer at the Texas Book Festival in Austin and a featured Author of the Month at BookPeople, the largest independent bookstore in Texas. Her autobiographical essays have appeared in the Houston Chronicle and other periodicals. She frequently reads to groups and organizations across the Hill Country.

Nail’s four books feature illustrations by daughter Katy Nail. Samples of the drawings appear on the Books page, and Katy’s paintings are displayed on her website. Two audio books include musical interludes by Nail’s granddaughter, Carrie Rodriguez. The author’s daughter Leslie Nail serves as her editor and “business manager.”

The photo below was made at the November 2009 book launch party in Austin.

From left to right: Carrie, Frances, Leslie & Katy.