Justin Cronin, born and raised in New England, is an acclaimed American author who has woven his storytelling magic across six novels, including the standout vampire trilogy: The Passage, The Twelve, and City of Mirrors. A graduate of Harvard University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, his literary contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Stephen Crane Prize, a Whiting Writers’ Award, and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award.

Before settling into his role as a professor of English at Rice University, Cronin honed his craft teaching creative writing and serving as the "Author in-residence" at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1992 to 2003. His debut, The Passage, not only secured favorable reviews but also caught the attention of Hollywood, with Fox 2000 acquiring screen rights and Ridley Scott expressing interest in bringing the novel to the silver screen. The book’s adaptation into a television series, with Cronin as co-producer, further cemented his status in the realm of speculative fiction.

Residing in Houston, Texas, with his wife and children, Cronin’s narrative prowess has drawn comparisons to literary giants such as Cormac McCarthy, Michael Crichton, Stephen King, and Margaret Atwood. The Passage became a global phenomenon, enchanting readers worldwide and featuring on numerous "Best of the Year" lists. Stephen King himself has lauded the book as “enthralling… read this book and the ordinary world disappears.”