Janet Fitch is an American author best known for her novel White Oleander, which was adapted into a film in 2002. A graduate of Reed College, Fitch was born in Los Angeles and comes from a family of avid readers. Initially, she intended to become a historian due to her fascination with powerful narratives and historical themes. However, during a student exchange at Keele University in England, she realized her true passion was writing fiction.

Fitch has taught fiction at the University of Southern California and her favorite authors include Fyodor Dostoevsky and Edgar Allan Poe. Her third novel, Paint It Black, was published in September 2006 and later adapted into a film directed by Amber Tamblyn in 2016.

Fitch is also known for her epic novels of the Russian Revolution, including The Revolution of Marina M. and Chimes of a Lost Cathedral. Additionally, she has written a young adult novel, Kicks, various short stories, essays, and articles, and regularly teaches at the Community of Writers Summer Workshops and other writing programs.

Fitch has received numerous fellowships and continues to live in Los Angeles, where she indulges in her love for literature and travel.