Alice Mary Norton, born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1912, began her writing career in high school. After graduating, she pursued teaching studies but left due to the Depression and worked for the Cleveland Library System for 18 years. During this time, she legally changed her name to Andre Alice Norton, adopting a pen name for marketability, particularly for a male-dominated fantasy audience. She later worked at the Library of Congress on a project related to alien citizenship and briefly owned a bookstore before retiring from library work due to ill health. She then worked for Gnome Press, a science fiction publisher, before becoming a full-time professional writer in 1958.

Norton wrote extensively in the science fiction and fantasy genres, often for the young adult market. She adopted several pen names, including Andre Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. Her career spanned over 70 years, resulting in more than 300 published titles. She received numerous accolades, including being the first woman to be named Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and SFWA Grand Master. She was also inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Norton passed away in 2005.

Born Alice Mary Norton in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1912, she developed an early passion for writing in high school, where she edited the school paper's literary page and wrote short stories. Her initial plan after graduation was to become a teacher, leading her to study at Flora Stone Mather College. However, economic hardship during the Depression forced her to leave academia and begin a long tenure with the Cleveland Library System. It was during her library career that she legally adopted the name Andre Alice Norton, a pen name she had previously used for her first published book, believing it would enhance her appeal to the predominantly male readership of fantasy literature at the time. She also worked for a period at the Library of Congress on a project that was halted by the onset of World War II.

Norton's literary career began with historical novels for young readers, but she soon expanded into science fiction and fantasy. Her first book, 'The Prince Commands,' was published in 1934. She later published her first science fiction short story under the name Andrew North in 1947, and her first fantasy novel, 'Huon of the Horn,' in 1951, followed by her first science fiction novel, 'Star Man's Son, 2250 A.D.,' in 1952. She became a highly prolific author, publishing numerous books, many originally aimed at the juvenile market. Over her extensive career, she was recognized with multiple awards, including the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy, the SFWA Grand Master award, and induction into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. She was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA).

Due to ongoing health concerns, Norton relocated to Florida in 1966 and later to Tennessee in 1997. She continued to write until shortly before her death in 2005. Her prolific output, totaling over 300 published works, significantly influenced generations of science fiction and fantasy writers and readers. Her legacy is further honored by the Andre Norton Award, established by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for outstanding young adult fantasy or science fiction. The High Hallack Library, a research facility for genre writers and scholars, was also organized with her involvement, though it ceased operations in 2004, partly due to her declining health.