[1] After finishing high school in Bellingham, Margaret went to Stanford University (Palo Alto, California) where she majored in history, avoiding English despite her interest and ability in writing.

Craven graduated with distinction in 1924 and moved to San Jose, California, where she took a job as secretary to the managing editor of the Mercury Herald.

After the death of the editor, Margaret moved back to Palo Alto and began writing short stories for magazines[2] such as the Delineator.

She had learned about the Native-Americans of the northern British Columbia coast, first from her brother Wilson, who had visited there, and then from reading published accounts of the native culture.

Subsequently, Margaret published a second novel, Walk Gently This Good Earth (1977), an autobiography, Again Calls the Owl (1980), and a collection of stories, The Home Front (1981).