Author Patricia Hermes was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1936. She graduated from St. John's University with degrees in speech and English. She taught English and social studies in middle school before taking time off to raise her five children. When she returned to teaching, she was less satisfied with the job and decided to take a class in writing nonfiction for adults. She wrote essays and nonfiction for adults before she starting writing books for children and young adults. In 1980, her first book, What If They Knew?, was published. Since then she has written over thirty-five books and received numerous awards including the Smithsonian Notable Book Award, the C. S. Lewis Honor Award,… the American Library Association Best Book Award, and the award for the New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Years. She also writes The Cousins Club series and novelizations for screenplays including My Girl and My Girl 2. She currently lives in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Author and illustrator Ruth Sanderson was born in Ware, Massachusetts on November 24, 1951. She graduated from the Paier School of Art in 1974. She has illustrated over 70 books and has written and illustrated 12 books. She has won numerous awards including the 1980 National Science Teachers Award for Five Nests, the 1992 Young Hoosier Award and the 1994 Irma S. Black Award for The Enchanted Wood, and the 2003 Texas Bluebonnet Award for The Golden Mare, The Firebird, and the Magic Ring.