Author Janet Syas Nitsick is the daughter of former Nebraska State Senator George Syas, who served 26 years in the Unicameral and died Feb. 7, 1997. He was well respected for his knowledge of Nebraska's constitution.

Janet earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 as a nontraditional student. She is a former journalist and language arts teacher. She is married and has four sons with two being autistic. Their oldest nonverbal autistic son passed away suddenly on January 15, 2022. His loss leaves a hole in Janet and Paul's hearts as wide as the Mississippi River.