Diane Hawley Nagatomo was born in the UK and lived in Nebraska, Spain, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and California before coming to Japan in 1979. She is a semi-retired professor from Ochanomizu University and has written extensively on issues concerning gender, culture, and education. She is also the author of two other novels: The Butterfly Cafe and Finding Naomi. While not teaching or writing, she and her Japanese husband of more than 40 years spend time with their six grandchildren.