Mary Jessamyn West was born July 18, 1902 near North Vernon, Indiana. Her family moved to California when she was six years old and she grew up there, attending Fullerton Junior College and Whittier College. In 1923 she married Harry Maxwell McPherson and while attending graduate school at the University of California in 1931 she became ill with tuberculosis. After long years of illness, she recovered, and published the first of many short stories in 1939. She is author of several novels ('A Matter of Time', 'Leafy Rivers', 'South of the Angels', 'The Witch Diggers'), and several collections of short stories ('Cress Delahanty'; 'Crimson Ramblers of the World, Farewell'; 'The Friendly Persuasion'; Love Death and the Ladies' Drill Team'; 'Except for Me and Thee'). She has also published poetry, novelettes, and saw the production of her operetta, 'A Mirror for the Sky', at the University of Oregon. She is a Quaker and cousin of former President Richard M. Nixon.