Montana Hodges was born in California and was named Montana by her parents for no particular reason. The name fit, and since the time she was old enough to drive, Montana has found herself traveling across the Big Sky, seriously committed to summer rockhounding trips. Every summer, the rocks she brought home seemed to double. Rock and mineral collecting have been a hobby for years and inspired her to double major in geology and journalism at California State University Sacramento. Today, she and her Dalmatian, "Lucky," reside between Montana and California.

Robert Feldman is a retired public school earth science teacher who lives with his wife, Claudia, in Billings, Montana. Bob has three grown children, Barb, Tom, and David, who have frequently accompanied him on fossil collecting outings. He developed an interest in invertebrate paleontology at an early age and spends considerable time studying the subject. Along with his family, he has explored Montana's mining districts and fossil fields, intent on learning as much as he can about Montana's past.