A native of southern Illinois, Stephanie Grace Whitson has lived in Nebraska, USA, since 1975. She began what she calls "playing with imaginary friends" when, as a result of teaching her four homeschooled children Nebraska history, she was encouraged and challenged by the lives of pioneer women in the West. Since her first book, Walks the Fire, was published in 1995, Stephanie's fiction titles have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times and been finalists for the Christy Award, the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and ForeWord 's Book of the Year. Her first non-fiction work, How to Help a Grieving Friend, was released in 2005. Her interests include pioneer women's history, antique quilts, and French, Italian, and Hawaiian language and culture. 

January 1st, 1952 in East St. Louis (Age 72)