Lois Snelling was born in Ozark, Arkansas to David and Margaret Snelling in the 1890s. After graduating Ozark High School, Snelling attended Draughans Business College in Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon completing her courses, she worked as a secretary/stenographer for a number of years. While working as a stenographer, Snelling began writing and sold her first two creative efforts to the American Legion publication, receiving $1.00 for each. Snelling described that instance as the day she became a writer.

While there was a monetary incentive for Snelling to continue writing, her friends, captivated by her writing style, also encouraged her to continue. To help improve her writing, Snelling enrolled in a correspondence course in “Short Story Writing.” As part of the curriculum, she had to write five fully plotted stories, two of which she sold.

Snelling primarily wrote short stories and poetry. While writing one of her short stories, her editor suggested she contact an agent with the idea of reworking it into a full-length novel instead of a magazine serial. This resulted in the publication of Snelling’s first novel in 1958, Treasure in the Valley. It was inspired by a land development site Monte Ne, about six miles from Rogers, Arkansas. Snelling wrote three more juvenile mystery novels, all taking place in Arkansas. She wrote a fifth novel, Haunted Palace, though it appears it was never published. Snelling also wrote a biographical sketch on the 19th century silver advocate and 1932 Liberty Party nominee for President, William “Coin” Harvey in 1972.

Most of the poems Snelling wrote was sold to newspapers and other publications. She also won several awards for her poetry. These awards included the Abbie Frank Award in the Texas Poetry Society Competition with her Shakespearean sonnet on the Bill of Rights, “Decalog 1791,” The Poet’s Roundtable Alice Leigh Award for “Return to Saracen,” and Sybil Nash Abrams Award for “Patrick Henry Remembered.” Snelling was active in a number of literary circles including the Poet’s Roundtable of Arkansas, the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, and the Poetry Society of Texas. Snelling died in November 1988 at the age of 95.