Richelle Mead is a New York Times bestselling author of fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She is best known for her Vampire Academy series, which has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. She has also written the Georgina Kincaid series, the Dark Swan series, and the Age of X series. Mead has been writing since she was a child, and her books have been translated into over 30 languages. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and currently resides in Seattle, Washington. Mead is an advocate for literacy and has been a featured speaker at numerous book festivals and conventions. She is passionate about creating stories that inspire readers to explore their own imaginations.