Marie-Louise was born in 1962 in Dublin where she studied Illustration. Her first three books were published in Ireland where they gained considerable recognition winning two Bisto Merit Awards (for best children's book) and Bisto Book of the Decade, two Reading Association of Ireland Awards, an IBBY Honour and the overall winner of Children's Book Ireland. She won the 24th Children's Books Ireland book of the year award for Hagwitch . Although having lived in Dublin most of her life, Marie-Louise is a compulsive traveller, having spent two months roughing it in Australia and working as a writer in residence in the States. Whilst working in the US she met fellow illustrator Michael Emberley. They married and now live in County Wicklow, Ireland.