Gillian Flynn was born in Kansas City, Missouri to two community-college professors—her mother taught reading; her father, film. For college, she headed to the University of Kansas (go Jayhawks), where she received her undergraduate degrees in English and journalism.

After a two-year stint writing about human resources for a trade magazine in California (ask her anything about work-life benefits or employment law), Flynn moved to Chicago. There she earned her master’s degree in journalism ... Learn more