Although not a Mormon, in the first years of his life, Vern Pace often lived in Mormon communities in northern Arizona. He always wondered, historically, what generated such hatred for these people. That question, coupled with his colorful ancestry, motivated him to research and write Crucible of Faith. Pace is a West Point graduate, retired business executive, co-author of the novel, East of Peter's Landing, and author of the autobiography, Vernon. He lives with his wife, Peggy, in Dublin, Ohio.