Katie MacAlister is a Seattle-area author of fiction and non-fiction, born on March 15, 1964. Her most popular titles are in the genres of historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance. She writes young-adult books under the pseudonym Katie Maxwell and mysteries under the pseudonym Kate Marsh.

MacAlister's contemporary and historical books frequently feature Anglophile, flawed heroines who are tall, Rubenesque, klutzy, or divorced. Their male counterparts are typically men who have had some significant experiences in their past.

For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes. Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books followed during the years after Noble Intentions.