Belinda Hurmence was born in Oklahoma, raised in Texas, and educated at the University of Texas and Columbia University. She has written several novels for young people, including Tough Tiffany (an ALA Notable Book), A Girl Called Boy (winner of the Parents' Choice Award), Tancy (winner of a Golden Kite Award), and The Nightwalker.
She has also edited My Folks Don't Want Me To Talk About Slavery and Before Freedom: When I Just Can Remember, companion volumes to this book. She now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.