Garth Risk Hallberg is an American author best known for his debut novel, City on Fire. Born in November 1978 just outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Hallberg grew up in Greenville, North Carolina. He has a degree in English, obtained in 2001 from Washington University in St. Louis. It was there he met Elise White, who later became his wife.

Both of Hallberg's parents were educators, with his father also pursuing writing. After his parents' divorce at the age of 13, Hallberg continued to foster his passion for literature. He now resides in New York City. In addition to City on Fire, which was published in 2015 to critical acclaim and criticism, Hallberg has produced a range of stories and essays. His work has been featured in notable publications such as The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, Prairie Schooner, New York Magazine, Glimmer Train, Slate, Canteen, and The Pinch. He is a contributing editor at The Millions.

His accolades include a 2008 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction and being a two-time finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s Balakian award for excellence in book reviewing. Hallberg is also a faculty member at Sarah Lawrence College and holds an MFA from New York University.