Courtney Lillard was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin as the third of five children. Growing up, she enjoyed participating in music and theater, allowing her to develop a deeper interest in the arts. 

 

After graduating high school, Lillard moved to Illinois to pursue her B.A. in Broadcasting and Public Relations Communications. There, she met her future husband. ​In February of 2018, Lillard completed her M.A. in Communication Studies and began writing during the following months before she moved to Nebraska.

 

During that time, the first drafts of The Dark Angel series came to fruition. Book One was officially published in January of 2021, though several edits and cover changes took place before its final release. She and her husband currently reside in Hannibal, Missouri. 

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Outside of writing, Lillard is a fan of reading fantasy stories and the classics. Her other hobbies include cooking, playing video games, working on the yard, and doing puzzles.