Ouida Sebestyen's story began on February 13, 1924, in the quaint town of Vernon, Texas. She was born to James Etheridge and Byrd Lantrip Dockery, both dedicated educators. Her academic journey took her to the University of Colorado, while her professional path meandered through a variety of intriguing roles, from caring for children in a church nursery to shaping future aviators at a preliminary training school. On a wintry December 22, 1960, she united in matrimony with Adam Sebestyen, a Hungarian émigré and her longtime pen pal. Their marriage was blessed with a son, Corbin, but came to an end in 1966. Today, Sebestyen resides amidst the picturesque landscapes of Boulder, Colorado.

While crafting her literary worlds, Sebestyen adopts the pen name Ingen Sebestyen for her short stories and anthologies, reserving her true name for her young adult novels. Her writing journey commenced at the tender age of twenty, though her creations remained unpublished until she had spent thirty-five years refining her craft. She believes that the tale of her unwavering perseverance may inspire others to persist through the long and often lonely journey toward publication.

IOU's, Far from Home, and Words by Heart have garnered widespread acclaim, frequently appearing on esteemed "best books" lists and earning numerous accolades. Of these, Words by Heart stands as the most celebrated, clinching the International Reading Association Children's Book Award in 1980, followed by the American Book Award in 1982, and the Texas Institute of Letters Children's Book Award in 1983. Meanwhile, Far from Home was honored with the Netherlands's prestigious Zilveren Griffel (Silver Pencil) Award in 1984, recognizing it as the finest translated children's book of the year.