Nancy Crary Veglahn was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on July 17,1937. Her father, Ralph Crary, was an attorney and District Court judge and her mother, Margaret Crary, was an author. She attended the Sioux City public schools and received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Morningside College in 1959. She did graduate work in English at South Dakota State University, where she received her Master of Arts degree. Nancy was married to Don Veglahn on August 24, 1958 and they have two children.

Veglahn has held a variety of professional-level positions at various institutions of higher learning. She was an instructor of English at South Dakota State University, where she also held a job as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. She was also the Secretary to the Associate Dean at Yale Divinity School from 1959 --1962. In addition to these professional jobs, she has also had a major writing career. She has published a number of books including The Tiger's Tail, The Spider of Brooklyn Heights, South Dakota, Peter Cartwright: Pioneer Circuit Rider, Follow the Golden Goose, The Buffalo King, The Dance of the Planets, and many others.