Simone Elkeles received a Bachelors of Science degree in psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1992 and a Masters of Science degree in industrial relations from Loyola University-Chicago. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked for a manufacturing company creating diversity programs for their employees. Her books include Perfect Chemistry, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, How to Ruin My Teenage Life, and Leaving Paradise. She was voted the Illinois Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English.