Melissa Fay Greene is an American nonfiction author, known for her compelling works that explore themes of family, culture, and social justice. Born on December 30, 1952, she is a graduate of Oberlin College, class of 1975. Greene has written six noteworthy books and is celebrated as a two-time National Book Award finalist. In 2011, she was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, and in 2015, she received the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in the Creative Arts.

Her insightful essays have graced the pages of esteemed publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Newsweek, Life Magazine, Good Housekeeping, The Atlantic, Reader's Digest, The Wilson Quarterly, Redbook, MS Magazine, CNN.com, and Salon.com.