Erin Kaste was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she got in trouble at school for writing instead of doing the rest of her work. She began violin lessons at the age of four, went on to earn a degree in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music, and became a professional musician. After a brief public school teaching stint, she settled in Memphis, Tennessee, where she is currently a member of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Away from writing and music, she loves the beach, the mountains, road trips, and channeling her grandmother as she raises African violets and Christmas cacti. Her wife, Betsy, shares that love of travel, and they have two grown children, three dogs, and three cats.