Judith McCoy was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1959. She judged women's gymnastics for over 25 years in New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia. She spent five of those years as the New Jersey State Judging Director. She was the author of over 20 mystery and romance novels including the Dog Walker Mystery series. I Dream of You won Waldenbooks 2002 award for best-selling new author and Death in Show won Romantic Times Most Humorous Mystery award in 2010. She died due to complications from diabetes on February 18, 2012.