Lily was born and raised minutes away from Pilobolus' headquarters in Connecticut and grew up with the company. Since graduating from Columbia University, in 2003, with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing, she has worked as a book editor for Ten Speed Press, in Berkeley, California, and as Managing Editor of Saveur magazine, in New York City. Her book, The Hungry Scientist Handbook: Electric Birthday Cakes, Edible Origami, and Other DIY Projects for Techies, Tinkerers, and Foodies, coauthored with Patrick Buckley, was published by HarperCollins in 2008.