Robert Newton Peck grew up working a Vermont farm: He did chores, swam naked, wrote a poem or two, and swapped lies with other boys who would in later life people his tales. A Day No Pigs Would Die was his first novel, followed by Path of Hunters, Millie's Boy, Soup, Fawn and Wild Cat.

He sings in a barbershop quatet, plays ragtime piano, and his favorite sport is curling. His hobby is getting kids to read, and he visits schools (on request) wearing boots, a ten-gallon hat, and sometimes on a horse.