Eliz­a­beth grew up in Michi­gan amidst Dutch rel­a­tives. She attend­ed Boston Col­lege, spent her Junior year at the Uni­ver­si­ty of Lan­cast­er, Eng­land, and vis­it­ed her Dutch rel­a­tives, learn­ing their tales of hero­ism and sac­ri­fice which form the basis for Six­ty Blades of Grass.