Jill Jones was a child of the oil patch, born in Oklahoma, growing up in small towns in Texas and Louisiana as her father moved his geological survey crew from ranch to ranch in search of new sources of oil in the 1950s. This "doodlebug" lifestyle instilled a love of travel and adventure, and she now considers herself something of a vagabond spirit. Her travels as an adult have taken her to places that provided inspiration for her books, from the wild Yorkshire moors to the streets of San Francisco. Writing tales of romance and suspense, her stories all include a dark secret from the past, either a secret from history, or from the heroine's own family. She won the prestigious Maggie Award from the Georgia Romance Writers for her first novel, Emily's Secret, based on the life and work of Emily Bronte. She was also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Magazine.