A native of sourthern Illinois, Stephanie Grace Whitson has resided in Nebraska since 1975. It was when she was teaching her homeschooled children their state history unit that Stephanie became interested in the lives of the women who settled her adopted state. What she likes to call “playing with imaginary friends” eventually became her first book, Walks the Fire, published in 1995 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. Stephanie’s books have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list and been finalists for the Christy Award (www.christyawards.com). She founded a home-based inspirational gift company (www.besttoyou.com – see Burden Bear) and has also been involved in quilt pattern and sewing-related jewelry design (pewter at www.larorocke.com). Widowed in 2001, Stephanie now pursues a full-time writing and speaking ministry from her home studio in Lincoln, Nebraska.