Laurence Hutson, a practicing artist and writer, values the written word as a powerful tool for creating visual experiences that reach a broader audience than individual artworks can. He has been writing for several years and continues to hone his craft with studies in novel writing at the university level.

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In telling Anna Coleman Ladd's remarkable story, he develops engaging characters and creates vivid historical settings as elements to bring her back to life.

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For this novel, extensive research into the process of making portrait masks, combined with a personal knowledge of metal plating, resulted in a detailed account of the steps involved in their creation. Absent from the historical record, this layer provides a more compelling vision and insight into the determination of the artist teams in restoring these injured soldiers to their former lives. It is a heartfelt tribute to an almost forgotten woman in history. 

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