Joseph Leroy Coleman was born in 1925, the first born of Lillian Mayo and Joseph Leroy Coleman, and the eldest of 10 children. He became the patriarch of his family at an early age, due to his father's premature death. Joseph was drafted into World War II. When he returned from war,in his early 20's, he utilized the GI Bill to attend Ohio State University.In pursuit of a writing career, he graduated with a Journalism degree.While attending Ohio State, he won writing competitions, affording him the opportunity to write and direct plays at the University for his entire tenure. He then moved to New York in pursuit of writing for a leading publication. However, as a minority, this opportunity was denied.

Out of necessity he worked in garments at Macy's for a time. He subsequently moved to Iowa to hone his writing skills at the University of Iowa. One of her greatest pleasures and goals has been to put pen to paper. He felt it was a gift and has pursued his love of writing for a lifetime, while maintaining his career, his family matters and a healthy lifestyle. His passion for writing is embodied in this wide-ranging family saga, set in the Midwest during the Great Depression.