James L. Thane was raised in western Montana and earned a PhD in American history from the University of Iowa. Before he set about chronicling the dark side of his adopted home of Phoenix, he worked as a janitor, a dry cleaner, an auto parts salesman, an ambulance driver, and a college professor. As a historian, Thane has written one book and numerous magazine and journal articles. He has also written and produced two television series for PBS affiliate WQPT. He divides his time between Scottsdale, Arizona, and Lakeside, Montana.