Joan Coldwell received her PhD. from Harvard University and taught English at the University of Victoria until moving to Ontario. Coldwell became a professor of English and director of Women's Studies at McMaster University. She was introduced to Jane Rule and Helen Sonthoff through their mutual friend Gail Pass. She has also worked as book page editor and columnist for the Victoria Times-Colonist and as a food writer and radio producer. She is the founder and publisher of Hedgerow Press. Established in 2004, Hedgerow Press has published books by B.C. writers and artists, including Jane Rule's last book, Loving the Difficult, a collection of essays that received the Lambda Award for non-fiction.