Nancy Springer was born in Montclair, New Jersey on July 5, 1948. She received a degree in English literature from Gettysburg College in 1970. She has written about 40 books for children, young adults, and adults including the Sea King Trilogy, the Tales of Rowan Hood series, the Book of Isle Trilogy, and the Enola Holmes Mystery series. She has won numerous awards including the James Tiptree, Jr. Award, the Joan Fassler Memorial Book Award, and two Edgar Allen Poe Awards.