Granddaughter of DC Comics founder Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson; daughter of Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson Jr. and Olive Havard Pickens. Her parents divorced when she was young and she was raised without any contact with the paternal side of her family, only getting to know the Wheeler-Nicholsons when she was in her thirties.
Studied theatre at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama.
Founded Berkshire Media Artists with husband Jason Slater Brown. The company produced video documentaries and audiobooks.
Earned a master's degree in classical Greek mythology and theatre from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Acted in and directed off-off-Broadway productions in New York City in the late 1970s (Manhattan Punchline Theatre, etc.).