Daviess' books have been made into films, and she adapted her own work for the stage. The Golden Bird was adapted to the stage and film soon after its publication, but it is the original novel which has stood the test of time, providing an enjoyable, heartfelt read. Maria Thompson Daviess was a native Kentuckian, whose first endeavors were as an artist. Maria was born in 1872 in Kentucky to a wealthy family. Soon, her avocation for artwork and photography led her to travel in Europe; upon her return, she pursued photography and painting miniatures before turning to writing. She wrote thirteen novels, as well as her autobiography.

Author Biography

Maria Thompson Daviess (1872 - 1924) was an American novelist and artist, best known for her popular novels written with a "Pollyanna" outlook. Daviess was born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky in 1872. After her father died when she was eight, her family relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. She studied one year at Wellesley College and then went to Paris to study art. Returning to Nashville, she continued to paint and also took up writing. Her first novel, Miss Selina Lue and the Soap-box Babies was published in 1909. The Melting of Molly, published in 1912, was one of the top best-selling books for the year. She published sixteen novels between 1909 and 1920. In 1921, she moved to New York City, where she died in September 1924. She did not marry and had no children.