Rachel Vail never intended to become a writer. As a teenager she believed her only skill was eavesdropping, and therefore she planned to become a spy. But as a freshman at Georgetown University, Vail realized that her skill could be put to use. By writing down conversations she overheard, the stories in her head evolved into plays, and eventually into novels. Vail is the author of Wonder and lives in New York City with her husband and their son.