John Ignatius Rigoli, who goes by John I Rigoli, was raised as a Catholic and this upbringing had a significant impact on his worldview. His experiences as a Catholic and a former US Naval officer led him to believe that those who seek power are often the least suited to hold it. Rigoli is a social justice advocate, liberal, and patriot, and he sees no contradiction in these beliefs.
Diane Cummings, on the other hand, is a California native who graduated from UCLA and now resides in Atlanta, Georgia with a small Persian cat. She has worked as a reporter and news director but eventually turned to literature, having edited or ghostwritten over fifty titles. With a passion for writing and editing, Cummings has now decided to put her name on the cover of her work.
Inspired by his interest in the stories of the earliest women in the Church and their erasure from history, Rigoli and Cummings have collaborated on The Vatican Chronicle Trilogy. This work of historical fiction takes its inspiration from real women throughout history who worked alongside their male counterparts, unacknowledged. The first book in the trilogy, The Mystery of Julia Episcopa, is the result of six years of research, writing, and polishing.