strohmeyer grew up in bethlehem, pennsylvania, later attending tufts university and graduating with a degree in international relations. after graduation strohmeyer began working as a journalist, initially for the "home news" in new brunswick, but later moving to lebanon, new hampshire and working for the "valley news". in 1997 strohmeyer published "barbie unbound", which she wrote in response to her seeing several mothers refuse to allow their children to play with the doll due to it being perceived as being a "bimbo". strohmeyer lives in middlesex, vermont, where she is currently the town clerk.