Author Nancy Thayer was born in Emporia, Kansas on December 14, 1943. She attended the University of Wichita and received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in English literature. She taught freshmen English at various colleges and wrote fiction during her free time. Some of her short stories were accepted by various college literary reviews. Her first novel Stepping was published in 1980 and was adapted into a BBC radio series. Since then, she has written numerous books including Moon Shell Beach, The Hot Flash Club, The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again, Hot Flash Holidays, The Hot Flash Club Chills Out, and Between Husbands and Friends.