Maxine Trottier was born in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan on May 3, 1950. She moved to Windsor, Ontario in Canada with her family ten years later. In 1974 she became a Canadian citizen; she holds U.S. citizenship as well. She attended several years of school at Ardmore Elementary in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, but her education was completed in Canada. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. Maxine was an elementary school teacher for 31 years, and it was only after retiring that she began to write children's books.