Jessica Burkhart was born in Goodlettsville, Tennessee on January 29, 1987. In eighth grade, she had a spinal fusion for severe scoliosis and had to give up horseback riding. She received a BA in English from Florida State University in 2007. During her senior year of college, she signed up for National Novel Writing Month and took on the challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. The challenge resulted in the first draft of Take the Reins. An agent read the manuscript on her blog, she signed with him, and shortly afterwards she had a four-book deal. She is the author of the Canterwood Crest series. She also freelances for magazines such as Girls' Life, Listen and The Writer.