Sarah Elizabeth Lightell, MA was born in Florida where she has lived for most of her life. She started her career as an editor, then became a planner for the City of Gainesville before spending nearly three decades serving with the Area Agency on Aging before retiring to pursue her dream of being a writer. She holds an undergraduate degree in English from the University of South Florida, and Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida. She resides in Central Florida with her husband Paul and is the mother of four adult children, and 5 grandchildren.