Stephen Huneck was a bestselling and award-winning author of seven previous Sally adventures in addition to being an internationally acclaimed painter, sculptor and printmaker. His artwork is in the collections of the American Folk Art Museum, NY, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. He lived with his wife Gwen and four dogs in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, near Dog Mountain where his Dog Chapel is located. His own dog, Sally, was Stephen's inspiration for his books. Stephen died in 2010.