Maria V. Snyder is an American fantasy and science fiction author, best known for her Study Series. Born on April 15, 1973, in Pennsylvania, she initially aspired to be a storm chaser. She attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. However, forecasting wasn't her strength, leading her to work as an environmental meteorologist, which she found lacking excitement.

Bored at work, Maria began writing fantasy and science fiction stories. Over time, she authored over twenty novels and numerous short stories, gaining substantial knowledge in writing. She has appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, won multiple awards, and earned a Master of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University, where she is now a faculty member.