Born in Ohio, Ann B. Irish has lived on Vashon Island for almost all of her adult life. She holds a doctorate in history from the University of Washington, and she retired from Vashon Island High School after having taught there for twenty-seven years. Her two previous books are a biography of distant relative and important national politician Joseph W. Byrns and a history of Japan's northern island, Hokkaido. Ms. Irish is a long-time volunteer at the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Museum, where she has imparted details of island history to many school groups and other visitors. She is also an active volunteer and docent for Friends of Mukai, an organization which celebrates Vashon-Maury Island's Japanese heritage. In addition, she has traveled widely in the United States and abroad and has taught in Japan and Laos.