Patricia Briggs is an American writer known for her fantasy novels, particularly the Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series. Born on December 21, 1965, in Butte, Montana, she was greatly influenced by her mother, a children's librarian, who instilled in her a love for books and reading. Growing up, Patricia was fond of fairy tales and horse stories, which led to her later fascination with folklore and history.

She graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and worked as a substitute teacher before becoming a full-time writer. Today, Patricia lives in Montana with her husband, children, and six horses, dedicating her time to writing, much to the delight of her fans.