Annie Barrows is a renowned author, currently residing in North California. Born in 1962, Barrows developed a love for reading at a young age, which led her to become a librarian when she was just twelve years old. She pursued her passion for literature and history, graduating from the University of California with a degree in Medieval History. Barrows furthered her education with a postgraduate degree in creative writing.
Before beginning her career as an author, Barrows worked as an editor, eventually landing a job at Chronicle Books in San Francisco. There, she was responsible for editing books that many others would not consider publishing. After earning a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Mills College, Barrows began writing books for grown-ups, covering various topics such as fortune-telling, urban legends, and opera. In 2003, she shifted her focus to writing for children, finding it to be more enjoyable.
Barrows has achieved significant success in her writing career, particularly with her book, "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society," co-authored with her aunt, Mary Ann Shaffer. Published in 2008, the novel became an international bestseller, translated into 38 languages, and was adapted into a feature film in 2018. Her second novel, "The Truth According to Us," also became a bestseller.
In addition to her work for grown-ups, Barrows has written numerous children's books, including the award-winning series "Ivy + Bean," the novels "Magic Half" and "Magic in the Mix," and the young adult book "Nothing." She has also written a picture book called "What John Marco Saw" and the first book in a new series, "The Best of Iggy." Barrows's children's books are known for their humor and quality, with her having written a total of nineteen books for young readers. She currently resides in Berkeley, California, with her family.