Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio, and graduated from Miami University of Ohio. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis and a community college instructor in Danville, Illinois, before her first book was published in 1995. She has now written fifty books for kids and teens, including the Greystone Secrets series, the Shadow Children series, the Missing series, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series, and many standalones. Her newest book is The Ghostly Photos, the second in the Mysteries of Trash and Treasure series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status; the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and numerous state reader’s choice awards. Her books have also been translated into more than twenty languages.

Haddix and her husband, Doug, live in Columbus, Ohio, where they raised their two children.