Alex Flinn was born in Glen Cove, New York, and spent her formative years in Syosset, New York, and Miami, Florida. Her love affair with reading began at an astonishingly young age of three, when she learned to read, and by five, she had already set her sights on becoming a writer. However, her early attempts at writing were met with rejection, as evidenced by the first rejection letter she received from Highlights magazine at the tender age of eight.
As she grew older, Alex's family relocated to Miami, Florida, where she struggled to make friends due to her congenital shyness and a particularly unfortunate haircut. To cope with the challenges of social isolation, Alex found solace in reading and attempted to write a novel, although she never managed to complete it, as she was unsure of what to write about.
Alex's academic pursuits took her to a performing arts high school program, which would later serve as inspiration for her book, Diva. She went on to major in vocal performance at the University of Miami, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 1988. However, upon realizing that there were limited job opportunities for opera singers, Alex enrolled at Nova Southeastern University Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor in 1992.
Law school proved to be a transformative experience for Alex, as it taught her valuable skills that would later benefit her writing career. Her time at law school allowed her to develop a unique understanding of the demands placed on teenagers and judges, who both have limited time for reading. During her internship with the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, Alex became involved with domestic violence cases, an experience that would later influence her novel, Breathing Underwater.
After law school, Alex went on to practice law privately and married fellow attorney Eugene Flinn. The couple had two daughters, Katherine and Meredith. Alex's literary career took off with the publication of Breathing Underwater in 2001, which received numerous accolades, including being chosen as one of the Top 10 Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association.
Alex's subsequent novels, including Breaking Point, Nothing to Lose, Fade to Black, Diva, and Beastly, solidified her reputation as a talented young adult author. Beastly was adapted into a motion picture, and her book, A Kiss in Time, is a modern retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale.
In her personal life, Alex resides in Miami with her husband, two daughters, a dog, cat, and African Spur-Thighed Tortoise. She is an avid fan of the performing arts, biking, and travel.
