Timothy Crellin is an Episcopal priest, ordained in 1996 after graduating from Brown University and Harvard Divinity School. He is rector of a church in central Massachusetts and serves as a hospice chaplain. His mother's family came to the United States from Sicily in the early part of the 20th century. His fascination with his heritage led him to learn Italian and to study at the University of Bologna. In researching The Land of the Living, the author located his relatives in Sicily, and has since made many trips to visit his cousins. He loves the outdoors and hiking.