Paula McLain is a bestselling American author, renowned for her captivating novels such as 'The Paris Wife', 'Circling the Sun', 'Love and Ruin', and 'When the Stars Go Dark'. Her writings have gained international recognition and have been translated into numerous languages.
Born in Fresno, California, in 1965, McLain had a challenging upbringing after being abandoned by both parents. She and her two sisters became wards of the California Court System, moving in and out of various foster homes for fourteen years. Upon aging out of the system, she held various jobs to support herself, including working as a nurses aid, a pizza delivery girl, an auto-plant worker, and a cocktail waitress. It was during this period that McLain discovered her passion for writing and pursued it with determination. She earned her MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan in 1996.
McLain is not only a novelist but also a poet, with two collections of poetry to her name. Her memoir, 'Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses', provides a poignant insight into her early life. Her debut novel, 'A Ticket to Ride', marked her entry into fiction writing. McLain's work has been featured in prominent publications like The New York Times, Real Simple, Town & Country, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Good Housekeeping, and others. She currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio, with her family.