That explains why she never answered any of my letters...

No way! "The character of Mavis Beacon is not a real person, but rather a fictional character created to bring a personal touch to the tutorial. The original photo of Mavis Beacon was of a bankteller in Sherman Oaks, California, the city in which Software Toolworks had its offices. Former TV talkshow host Les Crane, who was then a partner in Software Toolworks, invented the name. Her first name is meant to evoke the concept of a maven. Her last name represents her role as a light to guide your way."