Born in Toronto, Nova Scotia has been Hill-Lehr’s home since 1985 – except when she lived in New Zealand and in Scotland. She holds a BA (Theatre Studies), MA (English), and M.Ed. (Counselling) – all from Acadia University. She has diverse interests, but writing is her passion. Her first book, Mona Parsons, from privilege to prison, from Nova Scotia to Nazi Europe, was short-listed for four awards. The documentary she co-wrote about Mona Parsons for History Television in 2001 won the bronze award at the Columbus International Film and Television Festival. There have been discussions about turning Mona Parsons' story into both a musical and a film, but to date both options are open. Hill-Lehr has also written for newspapers and magazines such as Maclean’s, Canada's History, Saltscapes, the Halifax Chronicle Herald, and the Halifax Daily News.