Lisa McMann is an American author renowned for creating The Unwanteds and The Unwanteds Quests series for young readers, as well as the WAKE trilogy for young adults. Born on February 27, 1968, in Holland, Michigan, McMann has established herself as a significant figure in contemporary American literature. She currently resides in Tempe, Arizona.

McMann's academic journey led her to Calvin College, where she graduated in 1990. Her writing career took off with her debut novel, WAKE, making it to the New York Times Best Seller list for children's chapter books. Following its success, she authored FADE, which also made its mark on the New York Times best-seller list, remaining there for eleven weeks. The conclusion to the WAKE series, GONE, was launched in February 2010.

In addition to her novels, McMann has published numerous short stories. Her creative nonfiction essay, "When You're Ten," was featured in Literary Mama, and her award-winning short story, "The Day of the Shoes," was published in 2004. McMann's stories, such as "Like Waves on Rocks" which appeared in the Gator Springs Gazette, cater to an adult audience, while her novels are primarily targeted at young adults.

Her latest venture includes The Forgotten Five series, a middle grade fantasy saga that kicked off with Map of Flames, an instant New York Times bestseller. This series explores the adventures of five supernatural kids on a quest tied to their missing, criminal parents. Also, McMann penned Clarice the Brave, a poignant tale about the resilience and hope of sibling mice separated by a mutiny.