Elizabeth Quinn and Anstance Tamplin are pseudonyms of Beth Quinn Barnard, who grew up in East Rochester, New York, and has been a professional writer of news and novels, and a teacher of journalism, fiction, and composition since 1976. A graduate of Skidmore College and Boston University, she's lived in Grants Pass, Oregon, since 1983 with her husband, Jeff Barnard, a reporter with the Associated Press. Her children, Nate and Nellie, are grown, but she and Jeff made sure they were Red Sox fans before setting them free. In her spare time, Beth likes to read, travel, hike, cook, downhill ski, raft whitewater and sing alto in a local community chorus. Her website is www.BethQuinnBarnard.com.