About the author: Terry Tallent is a former teacher with a Master's degree in English. His interest in history led to years of research into California's colorful past. "I didn't set out to write a historical novel," he says, "but the material lent itself so well to one that I couldn't resist the challenge." Although Mr. Tallent lived for many years in diverse parts of the U.S. and overseas, he now resides in his old hometown, Ojai, California.