The foreword to Under a Graveyard Sky explicitly notes that the people Sofia and Faith were being based mostly on Ringo's Real Life daughters. They move to the West side of Chicago, the place the two of them struggle to satisfy new good friends and adapt to the tranquil, peaceful lifestyle of the community. Pastis and Mallett are good friends but Pastis produced Jeff obnoxious simply because that's just the form of strip it is.