Jennifer Donnelly is an accomplished American author, well-known for her young adult epic historical fiction novels. She was born in Port Chester, New York State, and grew up in Westchester and Lewis counties. Donnelly's parents are of Irish heritage, and her paternal grandparents settled in the Adirondack County, which would later serve as the setting for her debut novel. She attended the University of Rochester, where she majored in English Literature and European History, and later pursued further studies at Birkbeck College, University of London. Donnelly currently resides in the Hudson Valley, New York with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.
Donnelly has written a number of highly regarded novels, including the popular Tea Rose series and the Waterfire Saga series. Her first novel, The Tea Rose, set in London and New York in the late 19th century, received critical acclaim and was named a Top Pick by the Romantic Times. Donnelly's second novel, A Northern Light, won several prestigious awards, including the Carnegie Medal and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Her work also includes the co-authored Fatal Throne, a novel about King Henry VIII's six wives, and a children's picture book called Humble Pie. In 2023, she published Molly's Letter, the first in a series of novella-length stories called Rose Petals set in the world of her Tea Rose series.
In addition to her success in young adult fiction, Donnelly has also ventured into the world of fairy tales. Her 2019 novel, Stepsister, reimagines the classic tale of Cinderella, and her 2020 novel, Poisoned, offers a fresh perspective on the Snow White fairy tale. Donnelly's ability to bring new life to classic stories has earned her a reputation as a skilled and imaginative author. She continues to write and publish, with a third novel in her series of retold fairy tales currently in the works.