Betsy James is an award-winning author and illustrator who has published over a dozen books for children and young adults. James has worked as a freelance writer and illustrator for almost 28 years. She studied at Mount Holyoke College and the University of Utah and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. However, she did not attend art school and claims to be a "self-taught" illustrator. Her work covers a variety of fictional genres and includes from picture books to novels for young adults.