Rachel Renée Russell is an American author best known for the children's book series Dork Diaries and its spin-off The Misadventures of Max Crumbly. Born on March 13, 1959, in Saint Joseph, Michigan, Russell grew up with four younger siblings, two sisters and twin brothers, and later attended Northwestern University followed by law school. She currently resides in Chantilly, Virginia.

The Dork Diaries series, written in a diary format, features doodles, drawings, and comic strips to chronicle the daily life of protagonist Nikki Maxwell as she navigates the challenges of middle school. The series draws inspiration from Russell's experiences and her daughters, Erin and Nikki—the latter of whom illustrates the series. As of December 2023, over 55 million copies have been sold worldwide in 52 languages, making it a significant presence on the New York Times Best Sellers list in the Children's Series category for 331 weeks.

Her other series, The Misadventures of Max Crumbly, introduces readers to Maxwell Crumbly, a middle schooler chronicling his journey through diary entries. This series adds another layer to Russell's exploration of the middle school experience.