Malvin Williams-Tyson is a graduate of Florida State University and a Sergeant Major in the US Army Reserves. As a first-time author, she was influenced by the life experiences of her mother and grandmother as inspiration for this book. During a 10 year span she would meet with and listen to many stories told by extraordinary elders of that era and took great care to portray their stories as conveyed to her. She currently lives in Florida with her husband Richard, family and very close friends.