J. E. Gentry was a lawyer and law professor until she decided to devote herself fulltime to writing. She earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in English before going to law school and then earned a Juris Doctor degree. She has traveled extensively and now lives with her husband in the San Francisco Bay Area. She enjoys classical music and classic movies, and also show tunes and cool jazz. She is somewhat like her central character, Clara Quillen, but, in the book, Clara is better looking, nicer, younger, and much wealthier.