Claire Rudolf Murphy grew up in Spokane, Washington, and lived in Alaska for twenty-four years. She has loved history since she was a young girl; in fact, she majored in it at Santa Clara University. A former middle and high school teacher, she is a member of the faculty of Hamline University's MFA in Creative Writing for Children program and the author of fifteen books. She lives in Washington.

Stacey Schuett holds degrees from Sierra College and the University of California Davis and has illustrated more than twenty-five picture books, many about strong leaders in American history. She lives in California.