Durrant was born and raised in Ohio by her parents Oliver and Shirley. At the age of 22, she received a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Washington, and in 1979 she received her Master's. She later married Mike Bilow, and has one child. She currently resides in Bath, Ohio; and teaches writing classes and continues to write.

Lynda Durrant has received the following awards: Lynda Durrant: Information and Much More from Answers.com

• For Echohawk:
• Young Adult Choice Award
• International Reading Association Award
• Books for the Teenage selection, New York Public Library
• For The Beaded Moccasins: The Story of Mary Campbell:
• Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies selection by the National Council for the Social Studies/Children's Book Council 1998
• 1999 Ohioana Book Award (juvenile category)
• Books for the Teenage selection, New York Public Library
• For Betsy Zane, the rose of Fort Henry:
• Ohioana Book Award (juvenile category) OLA 2001
• Quick Picks selection by the American Library Association in 2001
• Books for the Teenage selection, New York Public Library

Starred review in BooklistFor "My Last Skirt" starred review in Kirkus, a Parents' Choice Award, and a Bloomer AwardFor "The Sun, the Rain, and the Appleseed" an Aesop award.For "Imperfections" ALA Notable