Elizabeth Anderson is the pen name of Jane Witmer, who lives in Paris, Illinois with her husband, a daughter, two dogs, and 10 cats. Born in Minnesota and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana, Mrs. Witmer has always been interested in writing, but at her parents' urging completed a teaching degree at Indiana State University. She later completed an M.S. in education with a double major in English and French, and an M.A. in English. She taught eight years in Indiana before moving to Illinois where she taught English and French at Paris Cooperative High School and was an adjunct instructor of English at Lake Land College. During her time at PCHS, she was active in the teachers' association and was elected president of the teachers' local organization for several terms. She also served as Chairperson of the Language Arts Department at the high school. Officially retiring from teaching in 2007, she has continued teaching part time since then, first as both a French and dual-credit composition teacher, and finally as just a French teacher. She and her husband have traveled widely in Europe and Israel, and her love of Switzerland has influenced the setting of the Angeluscustos series. This novel was written for her four grandchildren, the real Hannah, Brennan, Julia and Emma, who recently moved to Thailand with their missionary parents.