[5] She met her husband Don in Columbus, and lived there for thirty-five years, though they spent some time in Naples, Florida (as she considered that state her "second home").
[5][6] Harper previously taught English at The Ohio State University and Westerville North High School.
Harper remarked in an author's note that the novel reminded her of the love affair between Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla Parker Bowles, as both shared a "less than enthusiastic endorsement" from senior royal figures.
[8] Harper has stated that the Tudor era is her favorite setting for her novels, and medieval England is a close second.
She stated this is because she built up a large Tudor library over the past thirty years, took frequent trips to the British Isles, had full access to the large Ohio State University library, and interviewed many people familiar with her chosen historical topics.