Lauren Oliver, born in 1982 in Queens, New York, established her literary career by composing the entirety of her debut novel, Before I Fall, on a BlackBerry mobile device while commuting via subway. This initial work, published in 2010, marked the beginning of a prolific output that spans young adult literature, science fiction, and middle-grade fantasy.
Academic Foundation and Background
Oliver grew up in a household centered on literature, with both parents working as professors and her father, Harold Schechter, established as a true crime writer. She attended the University of Chicago, where she majored in philosophy and literature and gained election to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University.
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Following the success of Before I Fall, which was adapted into a 2017 feature film, Oliver garnered attention for her dystopian Delirium trilogy, comprising Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem. She also contributed several novellas to the series, including Hana, Annabel, and Raven. Her work in young adult fiction continued with titles such as Panic, which she adapted into a series for Amazon Prime Video, and the psychological thriller Vanishing Girls.
Multimedia and Publishing Initiatives
In 2010, she partnered with Razorbill editor Lexa Hillyer to co-found a literary incubator originally named Paper Lantern Lit and later rebranded as Glasstown Entertainment. This venture led to the development of more than one hundred original books and scripts. By 2019, she took on the role of president for Glasstown West, the firm's film and television division, while simultaneously initiating the development of Hookline, an augmented reality iconography platform.
Children's Literature
Oliver expanded her bibliography into the middle-grade market with works like The Spindlers and the Curiosity House series. The latter project, written in collaboration with H.C. Chester, includes titles such as The Shrunken Head, The Screaming Statue, and The Fearsome Firebird. Her middle-grade output earned her a 2012 nomination for the E. B. White Read Aloud Award for her novel Liesl & Po.
Fast facts
- Born: 1982, Queens, United States
- Education: University of Chicago, New York University
- Notable works: Before I Fall, Delirium, Pandemonium
- Company: Glasstown Entertainment
- Languages: English
- Professional memberships: Phi Beta Kappa Society
Questions readers ask
What was the inspiration for the book Panic?
Panic follows the lives of two high school graduates, Heather and Dodge, in the impoverished town of Carp as they compete in a dangerous summer game to win a $67,000 prize.
How does Oliver manage her literary projects?
She co-founded Glasstown Entertainment with Lexa Hillyer to incubate and develop new book and script ideas, and serves as president of the company's film and television branch.
Achievements
- Notable work: Delirium
- Notable work: Pandemonium
- Notable work: Before I Fall
- Genres: fantasy
