Farrell, Mary Cronk: - Mary Cronk Farrell is a former award-winning journalist and author of fiction and nonfiction books for children. She writes with passion about little-known people of history who face great adversity with courage. Her book Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific has been named a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, Jefferson Cup Honor Book, Washington State Book Award Finalist, Booklist Editor's Choice, to the Amelia Bloomer Project List and awarded a EUREKA! Children's Book Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. She lives in Washington State.

Mazzeo, Tilar J.: - Tilar J. Mazzeo is the New York Times and San Francisco Chronicle bestselling author of books that include The Widow Clicquot, The Secret of Chanel No. 5, and Hotel on the Place Vendôme. The Clara C. Piper Associate Professor of English at Colby College, she divides her time among coastal Maine, New York City, and Saanichton, British Columbia, where she lives with her husband and stepchildren.