Vivian Vande Velde is a prolific American author known for her fiction targeted at children and young adults. Born on June 18, 1951, she has spent most of her life in Rochester, New York. Her works often feature elements of horror and fantasy blended with humor. Among her notable achievements is her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999), which won the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel.

Vande Velde began her writing career after leaving her job as a secretary to focus on her family and her passion for storytelling. Her first published book was A Hidden Magic. Despite the challenges she faced, including numerous rejections from publishers, her persistence paid off, making her a celebrated name in children's literature.

Apart from writing, Vivian enjoys engaging with young audiences through school talks and book conventions. She is also an active member of the Rochester Area Children's Writers & Illustrators, where she finds support and camaraderie among fellow writers.