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

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While telling Anna Coleman Ladd's story, he  has used vivid characters and historical elements to bring her back to life. For this novel, extensive research into the process of making portrait masks, combined with 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. This book is a heartfelt tribute to an almost forgotten woman in history.