Margaret Shepherd is known to thousands of calligraphers as writer, artist, and teacher. She has written 20 books on calligraphy, including the top-selling Learn Calligraphy , the classic book that introduced so many calligraphers to the art. She has taught about the basics of calligraphy at many, many colleges and interest groups, and lectured at MIT's "Charm School" about the importance of handwritten notes. She has given workshops all over the world, from Uzbekistan to Hanoi to Helsinki. She lives and works in historic Boston, where she has mapped 26 letters of interest along "The Calligraphy Trail." Her memorials to the founders of Boston fill the walls of First Church. Calligraphy fans can visit Margaret's blog for free printouts: practice guidelines; a cat calligraphy design; and her "An Abecedary to Color" where she offers a collection of six capital letters every week. Adventurous scribes can learn a new calligraphy alphabet every day for a year.

Margaret considers beginners the most important members of the calligraphy community, and aims to inspire, encourage, and challenge them. Her readers feel they know her as if they have sat in her classes. Almost all of her books are written by hand in her calligraphy, and liberally illustrated with a wealth of drawings, diagrams, guidelines, and sample projects. Ms. Shepherd's most recent book, Learn American Calligraphy , celebrates American calligraphy in all its rich variety. As one reviewer said "Finally! A remarkable work that showcases America's own unique contributions into calligraphic design.".