John Niven is a Scottish author and screenwriter, born in 1966. He is known for his satirical and darkly humorous writing style. His notable works include Kill Your Friends, The Amateurs, and The Second Coming.

Born in Irvine, Ayrshire, Niven pursued his education in English Literature at Glasgow University, graduating with First Class honours in 1991. He spent a decade working in the music industry for various record companies such as London Records and Independiente. In 2002, he decided to focus on writing full-time and published his debut novella Music from Big Pink in 2005. The novella was subsequently optioned for a screen adaptation.

Niven gained significant recognition with his novel Kill Your Friends, a satire based on his experiences in the music industry, during which he famously passed on signing bands like Coldplay and Muse. The novel was published in 2008 by William Heinemann and received widespread acclaim.