Ann M. Burkly lived on McNeil Island and attended school there. Living on the lush island and interacting with prisoners gave her a deep appreciation for life, nature, and humanity. A historian, Ann has published articles in academic papers and blogs about McNeil. Her master's degree focused on the island, and Ann founded the McNeil Island Historical Society, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving McNeil's unique history. Steve W. Dunkelberger, a journalist in the Puget Sound region for two decades, is also a noted historian and author of local histories, including two other Arcadia Publishing titles concerning the city of Lakewood.