In researching for the book, , author Paula Lenor Webb, came across a woman unlike any other who lived in the 1800s. Octavia Walton LeVert, living in the wealth and wilds of the expanding United States, influenced those around her. Paula realized how fascinating this story was and set out to discover more. After five years of traveling, visiting archives, and private collections, Paula Webb has written the true story of a woman ahead of her time.