Erika Mitchell, known by her pen name E. L. James, is a British author renowned for her best-selling Fifty Shades series of erotic romance novels. This series not only sparked a multimedia franchise, including a film trilogy of the same name, but also became a global phenomenon. Before her fame with Fifty Shades, she wrote the Twilight fan fiction "Master of the Universe" under the pseudonym Snowqueens Icedragon, which eventually evolved into the Fifty Shades series.

In 2019, James stepped away from the world of Fifty Shades to publish her first standalone book, The Mister, although it was met with a less enthusiastic critical reception. Despite this, the Fifty Shades novels have sold over 150 million copies worldwide, becoming a cultural and commercial juggernaut. Over 35 million copies have been sold in the United States alone, and it set the record in the United Kingdom as the fastest-selling paperback of all time. In 2012, Time magazine named her one of "The World's 100 Most Influential People".

Beyond her literary success, James is a former TV executive, wife, and mother of two, residing in the leafy suburbs of West London. She has been crafting romantic fiction since 2009, a passion that exploded into international stardom with the release of the Fifty Shades Trilogy. Her journey from dreamer to celebrated author is a testament to the power of following one's dreams, a message she warmly shares with her readers.

Her latest work, Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian, promises to continue her legacy of engaging and provocative storytelling, inviting readers once again into her captivating world.