Harriette Gillem was born the daughter of teachers Richard Avitus and Martha Gray in Washington, D.C., on July 14, 1931.

The author became familiar with slavery during her childhood summers in Arlington, Virginia. Her grandfather, great aunts, and great uncles served as slaves on the Virginia plantation of General Robert E. Lee. Gillem's childhood experience paved the way for her interest in slavery and historical fiction.

In 1953, she graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the College of New Rochelle in New York. The author earned her master of science (1957) and doctorate (1963) degrees in microbiology from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

From 1953 to 1954, Gillem worked in Children's Hospital, Washington, D.C, as a bacteriologist, and then worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a medical bacteriologist (1954-1957), before traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she taught biology at Xavier University...