Ann Calandro grew up in New York City and attended The Bronx High School of Science. She received an A.B. in English from Colgate University and an A.M. in English from Washington University St. Louis, where she received permission to do the creative-thesis option through independent study with poet Donald Finkel. Her poems and short stories have been published in several literary journals and anthologies. She has written three and illustrated four children's books, and her mixed media collages and photographs have been exhibited and published. Calandro worked for many years as a medical editor, writer, and proofreader in book and journal publishing, medical communications, and pharmaceutical advertising. Recently retired, she continues to write poetry and short stories from time to time but currently concentrates more on studying classical piano and creating artwork.