Elizabeth Lane was raised in Monroe, Utah, a small town set between forested mountains and red rock desert. The eldest of two sisters, she grew up hiking, fishing and camping with her family. She graduated from the University of Utah with a major in biology/education and minors in Spanish and art. Early on she worked as a teacher and as a proofreader before beginning a 23-year career as an educational software designer. The job included writing children's stories. Many of the children's books she wrote are still in print. In the late 1970s, after selling several children's stories to a magazine, she decided to try a novel. Her first adult book, Mistress of the Morning Star, was published in 1980. After publishing five more novels and ghost-writing two others, she sold a proposal to Harlequin's then-new historical line. As of 2008, she has written 25 books for Harlequin.

Presently Elizabeth lives in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has a grown son and daughter and three grandchildren. Another daughter died in an accident in 1985. An avid traveler, she has lived in several states, as well as Mexico, Germany, Guatemala and Panama. Her favorite places to visit include Hong Kong, Nepal, Tanzania and Peru. She also loves to hike and dance, and gives back to her community by volunteering as a zoo docent.