Donn Kushner (1927- ), author of the award-winning "The Violin-Maker's Gift" (1980), is also a research scientist and biology professor. Being a scientist and children's author both require imagination and discipline, Kushner has noted. The Louisiana native has worked for Canada's National Research Council, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Toronto. His books include "The Witnesses and Other Stories" (1981, Borealis) and "Uncle Jacob's Ghost Story" (1984).

These nine stories of mystery and intrigue have been previously published in "Bulletin de L'Association canadienne des Humanites" (1965), "Alphabet" (1965), "Inscape" (1971), "The Antigonish Review" (1979), and "The Fiddlehead" (1966).