Jayson Tatum (aka Deuce's dad) is a professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics. He is a six-time NBA All-Star, a multi-time All-NBA First Team selection, and a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Sam Apple (aka Isaac, Nina, and Lila's dad) lives in Philadelphia and teaches writing at Johns Hopkins University. He has not yet been selected to the All-NBA First Team. Parker-Nia Gordon grew up in the musical city of Memphis, Tennessee, home of rhythm and blues. She received her BFA at Ringling College of Art and Design, and after graduating, Gordon returned to Memphis, where she became a visual teacher for young elementary school children for three years. She is the illustrator of Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to Be, written by Chris Bridges (Ludacris) and Halcyon Pearson.