The author, Jonathan (Jon) Guthrie, was born in Missouri but attended elementary and high schools in Coffeyville and Cherryvale, Kansas. During his high school days, Jonathan was active in Future Farmers of America, 4-H, drama, and band. He was also a persistent participant in public speaking contests. He won several. His interest in communications continued. As a member of the United States Army, Jonathan once taught English to foreign military personnel. He also taught writing skills for Fort Ord's Basic Army Administration School. A few years later, Jonathan began his civilian teaching career at Arizona Western College (Yuma, Arizona).

His last teaching position was with Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. After several years of professoring (during which time he was twice named an Outstanding Educator of America), Jonathan was appointed CEO of the National Institute for Human Resources Development, a federally-funded corporation specializing in workshops which taught such skills as how to obtain private- and public-sector grants. After the Institute closed, Jon returned to teaching at the college and university levels. All the while, Jonathan served as a stringer (independent journalist) and as a writer of short fiction. His works earned such nods of approval as the Broome Literary Award (for Ruby), a Golden Pen (for The Shave), the Johnston-Bradbury Prize (for Winter of Her Bones), an Ohio Fine Arts literary award (for Wheelchair Cowboy) . and a Pulitzer nomination for investigative reporting (2000). Guthrie is now living on the Oregon coast. He is the father of three: Jeana, Angela, and Robert; all of his kids dwell in New Mexico.

Guthrie is now working on the novel Rubicon Crossing.