Carol's inspiration for this novel came from her own experiences and from the rich tales recounted by her father Bob Parker, a Miami pioneer, who witnessed history as it was made during the first half of the twentieth century.

One of the scenes from the book--the birthday party--was key in Bob's childhood. He attended Catholic school with Sonny Capone. Like all Sonny's classmates, each year Bob was invited to the birthday celebration held at the Capone mansion. These were considered elaborate affairs to hold for a child and, of course, what kid doesn't want to go to a birthday party? This put the parents into a social predicament. The stay-at-home mothers of the era were not happy about the implications of sending their children to a gangster's home to be supervised by members of the mob. However, they felt sorry for the child, Sonny. It wasn't his fault that his father was a criminal. Consequently, manners and pity won out and Carol's grandparents sent Bob to the party each time the formal invitation, typical of the period, arrived.