Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a renowned American writer of young adult novels, known for her engaging storytelling and captivating plots. Born on October 19, 1984, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jen has been a multifaceted personality throughout her life. She has tried her hand at various activities, including being a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, and a primate cognition researcher.

Jen is also known for her unique interests, such as being a comic book enthusiast and a lemur aficionado. Her journey into writing began early, and she completed her first full book, which she humorously refers to as a "practice book," during her high school years. Her official debut novel, "Golden," was written the summer after her freshman year in college when she was just nineteen.

Jen graduated from high school in 2002 and went on to earn a degree in cognitive science, a field that studies the brain and thought, from Yale University in May of 2006. Her academic background deeply influences her writing, adding layers of depth and intrigue to her narratives.