Jennifer Lynn Barnes, born on October 19, 1984, is a prominent American writer renowned for her young adult novels. Her journey is as multifaceted as it is inspiring. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Barnes has embraced numerous roles throughout her life. From a competitive cheerleader to a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado, her diverse experiences have enriched her storytelling.

Writing has been a constant in her life, with her first complete book penned during her high school years. Although she refers to this early work as a "practice book" and has kept it from the public eye, it marked the beginning of her journey as an author. Her official foray into writing came with Golden, written at the age of nineteen after her freshman year in college.

Jen completed her high school education in 2002 and graduated from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science, focusing on the study of the brain and thought, in May of 2006. The following school year, she ventured abroad, further enriching her diverse experiences.