Tracy Chevalier was born on October 19, 1962 in Washington, D.C. Her father was a photographer who worked with The Washington Post for more than 30 years and her mother died in 1970 when Tracy was only 8 years old. Tracy has a older sister who resides in Soulan, France and a brother who lives in Salida, Colorado. Tracy received her Bachelor's degree in English from Oberlin College in 1984. After she graduated she moved to England and began working as an editorial assistant with Macmillan's Dictionary Of Art then later joined St. James Press as a reference editor. Her first novel The Virgin Blue which  was published in the UK in 1997 and was chosen by W H Smith for the showcase of new authors. Her Second Girl with a Pearl Earring which was published in 1999.  As of 2014 Girl with a Pear Earring has sold over five million copies worldwide and won the Barnes and Noble Discover Award in 2000. In 2003 the made a movie based off the book that received three Academy Awards nominations  along with ten BAFTAs and two Golden Globes in 2004.  In 2013 her novel  Last Runway was honored with the Ohioana Book Award  and was chosen for the Richard and Judy Book Club  for autumn 2013. As of 2013 Tracy Chevalier lives in London with her husband Jonathan Drori and son Jacob.