As a student at the Vancouver School of Art, Lynn Johnston leaned towards commercial illustration. After graduation, she first worked in an animation studio, and then at McMaster University as a medical illustrator. During her first pregnancy however, she created numerous panel cartoons which led to three books: 'David, We're Pregnant!', 'Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!' and 'Do They Ever Grow Up?'.
In 1978, Johnston signed a contract with Universal Press Syndicate and her masterwork 'For Better or For Worse' debuted on 9 September 1979. She continued the strip throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s; Universal has been distributing reruns since 2010. Lynn Johnston was given the society's coveted Reuben for 1986 and its Best Newspaper Comic Strip in 1991. The International Museum of Cartoon Art inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 1997, making Johnston the first woman to be so honored. She lives and works in Ontario.
