The life of the author of the novel Their Dogs Came with Them is equally as Fascinating as the book. Her life in academia, motherhood and an artist have garnered much respect and admiration. Begging her academic life in Immaculate Heart College with a B.A. in English she worked her was up to become a professor at Cornell University. Here is the link to an article I found that lauds the writer and her works.

http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections/cema/viramontes_helena