Morgan Harper Nichols facts for kids

Morgan Harper Nichols, born on February 4, 1990, is an American musician, songwriter, artist, and writer. Her work focuses on helping people connect with each other. Her first album, Morgan Harper Nichols, was released in 2015.

Today, Morgan works full-time as a writer, artist, and musician. She travels to speak, teach, and perform. She shares her art and words every day on her app called Storyteller, her online shop and blog Garden24, YouTube, Instagram, and her podcast. She has many followers on Instagram.

Early Life and Education

Morgan Harper Nichols was born in Los Angeles, California, on February 4, 1990. Her parents, Bishop James Henry Harper and Pastor Mona Nanette Harper, are both preachers. In 1993, her family moved to Georgia. There, her parents started a church called Kingdom City Church. Morgan and her younger sister, Jamie Grace, were both homeschooled as they grew up.

When she was 16, Morgan started attending Point University. She also began singing her songs at local coffee shops. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Later, she studied creative writing to get her Master of Fine Arts degree. After finishing college, she worked for a few years helping students apply to universities.

Music Career

Morgan Nichols started writing songs when she was 15 years old. This was before she began singing or playing the guitar.

In 2007, a song she wrote and sang, "Doesn't Take Stars to Shine," was used in the movie Bratz: The Movie. It was part of a talent show scene in the film. This opportunity helped her open shows for other artists, like jazz violinist Ken Ford. In the same year, she went on her first national tour called "Singing for College." She performed in cities like Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas, and Los Angeles to help pay for her college tuition.

In 2014, Morgan and her sister, Jamie Grace, appeared together on a Christmas music collection from Gotee Records. Morgan also helped write five songs for her sister's second album, Ready to Fly, which came out that same year.

Her first full music album, Morgan Harper Nichols, was released by Gotee Records on May 19, 2015. The first song on the album, "Storyteller," featured her sister Jamie Grace.

Writing and Art

In 2017, Morgan Nichols started a special project. She began writing personalized letters for strangers. Her goal is to write a million poems for strangers in her lifetime. People can share their stories with her on her website. Then, she writes a short, encouraging letter for them. She pairs each letter with a piece of visual art. She sends these to people for free and shares them anonymously on social media. Morgan says she does this every day to be kind and to "connect with people on a heart-level." She creates all her words and art using an iPad Pro.

Her first book, Storyteller, was released in December 2017. This book contains one hundred poems written as letters. Her book, How Far You Have Gone, which includes poetry, essays, and visuals, was released on April 27, 2021. She also released another book in October 2021 through the Zondervan publishing company.

In the spring of 2019, she started her blog, Garden24. She wanted a more lasting way to share her artwork than just on Instagram. She calls the blog "a garden - of community, gathering, and of art." It reminds everyone that "when we plant together, we bloom."

Podcast and App

In September 2019, Morgan Nichols started her podcast, The Morgan Harper Nichols Show. On the podcast, she talks with other storytellers. They discuss how to find meaning and peace in life and work. She has interviewed many guests and releases new episodes every weekday morning.

Morgan launched her app, Storyteller by MHN, in October 2019. The app shares her words and art in different ways. It aims to inspire and motivate users to "keep telling your story." The app offers daily wallpaper art, messages, and encouraging notifications.

Online Store

In 2019, Morgan Nichols opened her own online store, Garden24. The name comes from the idea that you are always growing, 24 hours a day. The store sells various items. These include her calendar, prints of her artwork, stickers, and her books.

Personal Life

Morgan Harper Nichols is married to Patrick Kekoa Nichols, who is a tour manager. They got married on October 17, 2010. On May 30, 2019, they welcomed their first child, a boy named Jacob Henry Kekoa Nichols. The family currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Her studio and shop, Garden24, are also located there. Morgan was diagnosed with autism when she was 31 years old.