Frequently Asked Questions
How did you get interested in writing this book?
As children, we were indoctrinated into an extreme form of Catholicism. Our father was one of the founding members of this group in Chicago. Convinced the apocalypse was near, he packed up his family and several other community members and started a religious commune in the mountains.
As a result of those early experiences, we became interested in “cult-type” or extremist religions.
How did you get the information on such a
secretive religion?
The idea originated after seeing a documentary on polygamy. We began researching the most notorious polygamists group in this country, particularly the group run by Warren Jeffs. We contacted several members of Tapestry Against Polygamy and the Hope Organization. They are both based in Utah and help advocate for women and children trying to escape polygamy. We spoke personally with several members and have incorporated some of their experiences into our novel.
We also did extensive research into fundamentalist Mormonism and polygamist groups currently existing in Utah, Arizona and Texas.
What would you like to accomplish with the publication of Hidden Wives?
We hope that our novel assists in keeping the plight of these victims of polygamy in the media spotlight.
