Willis McCarthy is a chemistry instructor and cross country coach with an extensive running background. Additionally, he has worked, toured and run in the Caribbean, Central America, Europe and the Middle East. Many of the topics covered in the novel are based on conversations and experiences he had with indigenous people living in their respective countries.

    In addition, the author has finished fourteen, one hundred mile endurance runs during his twenty-five years of competition. The photographs were taken at the Western States Trail Run. The Home Page photo is the author at the finish line after the 1994 run and the photo to the left is the author crossing the American River in 1997.