Jen Lancaster was born in November 1967. After graduating with a B. A. in political science, she worked for an HMO and then at a technology company. In December 2002, after being unemployed for over a year, she launched a website to air her frustrations about unemployment and it gained popularity quickly. Her first book, Bitter Is the New Black, was published in 2005. Her other works include Bright Lights, Big Ass; Such a Pretty Fat; Pretty in Plaid; My Fair Lazy; Jeneration X; If You Were Here, and the Tao of Martha.