Jennifer Anne Nielsen, born on July 10, 1971, is an acclaimed American author, celebrated for her contributions to young adult fiction. Her notable works include the Ascendance Series, Behind Enemy Lines (a part of the Infinity Ring series), The Mark of the Thief, A Night Divided, and the Underworld Chronicles. Nielsen's journey in literature has been marked by her unique storytelling that captivates young readers worldwide.

Before embarking on her writing career, Nielsen was a speech teacher and theater director, experiences that undoubtedly enriched her narrative skills. Her brief stint as a door-to-door pollster, though disastrous, adds an interesting chapter to her life. Residing at the base of a very tall mountain in Northern Utah with her husband, three children, and a naughty puppy, Nielsen finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, such as the smell of rainy days, hot chocolate, and old books, a combination she finds irresistible. In her scarce spare time, she tends to panic, humorously wondering what she has forgotten to do that has allowed her this luxury.