Cheryl Smith is a freelance writer and has been hiking with dogs for 20 years. She has written four other books about dogs including the best-selling book The Trick Is in the Training (Barrons). She received the Eukanuba award for writing on canine health as well as the Maxwell medallion from the Dog Writers Association of America.

Ann Richardson earned her horticulture degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. At the Huntington, she served as curator of the camellia gardens and the Japanese garden for 13 years. Her articles have appeared in "Fine Gardening Magazine", "The Camellia Review", "Public Gardens", and the "International Camellia Society Review".