After completing her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, Susan Hyde accepted a position on the East Coast. During her eight years in Cape Breton, she fell in love with Maritime architecture and began photographing and researching the Island's picturesque wooden churches. Hallowed Timbers is the result. Susan Hyde and Michael Bird are married and live in Waterloo, Ontario. She is a psychologist at a Southern Ontario health centre. Both maintain a strong interest in matters artistic, musical and historical, and are easily enticed to grab notebook and camera and trek to out-of-the-way churches on short notice.