L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an accomplished author, notably in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. He is renowned for his fantasy series, The Saga of Recluce. His academic journey saw him graduate from Williams College in Massachusetts. Over time, he lived in Washington, D.C. for two decades before transitioning to New Hampshire in 1989, where he met his wife. By 1993, they found a new home together in Cedar City, Utah.

Modesitt's professional life has been as diverse as his storytelling. He has served as a Navy pilot, a lifeguard, a delivery boy, an unpaid radio disc jockey, a real estate agent, a market research analyst, the director of research for a political campaign, a legislative assistant for a Congressman, the Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and even a college lecturer.