Rachel Hartman is an American writer and artist of comics, and an author of young adult fiction. She is best known for her young adult fantasy novels, including Seraphina (2012), Shadow Scale (2015), Tess of the Road (2018), and In the Serpent's Wake (2022). Her work has garnered critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including the Morris Award, the Sunburst Prize, and the Monica Hughes Award.

Hartman was born on July 9, 1972, in Kentucky, and currently resides in Vancouver, BC, with her husband and whippet. Her novels have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list and have received praise from fellow authors, with Naomi Novik describing Seraphina as "a book worth hoarding, as glittering and silver-bright as dragon scales", and Tamora Pierce hailing the protagonist Seraphina as "strong, complex, talented".

In addition to her writing career, Hartman is actively engaged with her readers, providing insights into her creative process and discussing her works with fans on platforms like Goodreads. She is also known for her thoughtful engagement with fans' questions and her encouragement of young readers and aspiring writers.