Jay Asher is an American writer and novelist, best known for his bestselling 2007 book Thirteen Reasons Why.

Asher was born in Arcadia, California on September 30, 1975. He grew up in a family that encouraged all of his interests, from playing the guitar to writing. He attended Cuesta College right after graduating from high school, where he wrote his first two children’s books for a class called Children’s Literature Appreciation. At this point, he decided he wanted to become an elementary school teacher. He then transferred to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, where he left his senior year to pursue a career as a serious writer. Throughout his life, he has worked in various establishments, including as a salesman in a shoe store and in libraries and bookstores.