Ann Martin was born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey. She graduated from Smith College in 1978 with a double major in psychology and elementary education. She worked as a teacher and then an editor of children's books. Her first published book was Bummer Summer (1983). She is best known for her Baby-sitters Club series of children's books. In 1990, she created the Ann M. Martin Foundation, which provides grants to causes benefiting children, education and literacy programs, and homeless people and animals. She lives in Hudson Valley, New York.