Howard and Dorothy Barnett met at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, and married a few years later in 1965. Both graduated from the University of Texas, Howard with a BA in Journalism, and Dorothy with a BA and MFA in English/Creative Writing.

They share their home with two Australian shepherds Babe (named after the sheep herding pig) and Pirate (he has only one eye). They have two daughters, Laura and Cory and three grandchildren, Reagan, Hudson and Paige.

Howard enjoys tennis, racquetball, skiing and martial arts (2nd degree black belt in a traditional Korean style). He also owns golf clubs and pays green fees regularly, but to say that he "plays" golf is an insult to a beautiful game. Howard has also been a smokejumper, a motor cross racer, staff writer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and a freelance writer.

Dorothy is an Assistant Dean in the English Department at Austin Community College where she teaches. She also just recently completed her MFA in Creative Writing at the Pacific Lutheran University.