Frederick Busch (1941–2006) was a prolific short-story writer and an award-winning novelist. Professor of literature at Colgate University from 1966 to 2003, he authored twenty-seven books and more than one hundred short stories and essays. His many honors include an American Academy of Arts and Letters award for fiction in 1986 and the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction in 1991.

Kent Meyers has published a memoir, a book of short fiction, and three novels, two of which have been listed as New York Times Notable Books. (The most recent is Twisted Tree, released in 2009). His work has won numerous honors, including a Society of Midland Authors Award and a High Plains Book Award. Meyers has published fiction and essays in various literary journals and magazines, including Harper’s and (several times) The Georgia Review. He lives in Spearfish, South Dakota, and teaches in Pacific Lutheran University’s low-residency MFA program, the Rainier Writing Workshop.