A native Californian, lifelong environmentalist and bohemian, Alicia Bay Laurel wrote, illustrated and designed her first published book, Living on the Earth, at ages 19 and 20, while living in the forest on a commune on the northern California coast. It was a bestseller in the early 1970s and is still in print and selling in its 5th English edition in the mid 2020s, and has also been published in Japanese, Korean, Spanish and French. Her innovative illustration and book design style remain influential, and her message of voluntary simplicity plus artisanal sustainability continues to speak to younger generations. In addition to the seven published books she has created, Alicia produced, recorded and toured eight albums of original music, produced a movie of one of her story-plus-music performances, licensed her artwork to fashion designers to print on clothing and accessories, had solo art exhibitions, and taught artist workshops. Her work also appears in anthologies, university history courses, and journals. Now in her 70s, she continues her free-spirited creative ventures.