Elisabeth Macdonald was born in Vernal, Utah. She attended Southern Utah and Utah State University. She then moved to California, where she would later begin her writing career. She wrote western historical fiction, gothic mysteries, and romance novels. Her first publication was "The House at Gray Eagle" in 1976. Later titles included "Falling Star" (1987) and "Wyoming Star" (1990). Her novel "Watch for the Morning" (1978) drew inspiration from her Mormon roots and was a best-seller. She also wrote under the pseudonym Sabrina Ryan.