K.A. Lillehei is a Scandinavian-American from Bainbridge Island in the Pacific Northwest who spent her formative years in the American Southwest. Lillehei has a doctorate in anthropology/linguistics from the University of New Mexico in the U.S. She has lived in several countries studying their cultures and languages. For many years Lillehei has been the chief English editor at Tansa Systems AS in Oslo, Norway, where she currently lives. Lillehei is a professional member of Pen America.