Peg A. Lamphier has a doctorate in American history she uses to write nonfiction monographs, encyclopedias, and a small pile of novels. A native Montanan (go Bobcats!), she lives in the mountains of Southern California with five dogs, six tortoises, a huge cat, three canaries, one daughter (who's away at college), one husband (who is around all the time), and a collection of vintage ukuleles that she plays with more enthusiasm than talent. When she's not writing, Peg teaches interdisciplinary education at California State Polytechnic-Pomona and American women's history at Mount San Antonio Community College. For more, see www.peglamphier.com.