Maria V. Snyder is an acclaimed American fantasy and science fiction author, renowned for her Study Series. Born on April 15, 1973, Maria originally aspired to be a storm chaser and pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Pennsylvania State University. However, she discovered that forecasting was not her forte, leading to a career as an environmental meteorologist, which she found unexciting.

Seeking a creative outlet, Maria began writing fantasy and science fiction stories. Her debut novel, Poison Study, was published in October 2005 and won the Compton Crook Award for best novel in 2006. Over the course of her career, she has authored over twenty novels and numerous short stories. Maria has been featured on the New York Times bestseller list and won multiple awards. She also obtained her Masters of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University, where she currently serves as a faculty member.