James Lincolon Collier is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of numerous books, including the Newbery Honor and National Book Award nominee My Brother Sam Is Dead, written with his brother, Christopher Collier. Together the brothers coauthored many historical fiction novels for young readers, including The Bloody Country, The Winter Hero, Jump Ship to Freedom, War Comes to Willy Freeman, and With Every Drop of Blood, and they also cowrote dozens of nonfiction books. James is the father of two grown children and the grandfather of four. He and his wife live in New York City and have a country home in Pawling, New York.

This award-winning author graduated from Clark University and earned a Ph.D. at Columbia University in History. Born in 1930 in New York City, Collier is an active member in many organizations such as the Connecticut Historical Commission and the State Museum Advisory Board. His honors include the Kidger Prize for Teaching, the Jane Addams Peace Prize, and the Newbery Honor. He previously worked as a junior high school teacher. Collier enjoys writing for children because he wants to show them that history is both interesting and important. His specialty is in the Revolutionary Era and New England. Christopher Collier lives with his wife in Orange, Connecticut and is the father of three. He is currently Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Connecticut.