Don Shirts grew up in beautiful Bountiful, Utah, and still resides there with his wife and four of his five children. His oldest son and daughter-in-law also live nearby. Don loves movies, books, and chocolate. He also has a fondness for dad jokes and good puns. His favorite scent is garlic sautéing in olive oil. He doesn't care so much for loud noises, long to-do lists, and winter campouts.

"Sean Dirts and the Hidden City" is his debut novel. He says the ideas that eventually coalesced into this story originated while daydreaming during his daily paper route when he was eleven and with his teenage obsession with Star Wars.