Sally M. Walker is the award-winning author of more than 60 nonfiction books for young readers. Even though she was raised in New Jersey, the story of the Great Chicago Fire has long fascinated her. While reading a magazine about history, she saw a copy of a letter that young Justin Butterfield wrote about his family's experiences during the fire. He had also drawn a picture of his family, including his pet goat, as they fled their home. After confirming that the Butterfields' story was true, she knew she wanted to share Justin's story with young readers. Sally was awarded the 2006 American Library Association's Robert F. Sibert Medal for Secrets of a Civil War Submarine.

Her newest books are Deadly Aim: The Civil War Story of Michigan's Anishinaabe Sharpshooters and Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up.