Cinda Williams Chima was born in Springfield, Ohio in 1952. She received a BA in philosophy from the University of Akron in 1975 and a master's degree in nutrition from Case Western Reserve University in 1984. Before becoming a full-time author, she was a freelance contributor to numerous local and regional publications focusing on health-related topics and was an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Akron. She writes the Heir Chronicles and the Seven Realms series. Her title The Enchanter Heir made The New York Times Best Seller List and her title Stitching Snow made The Young New Adult Titles List.