Born in 1965 in Butte, Montana, Patricia Briggs is an American author who has been writing fantasy novels since 1993. She began her writing career in 1990, with her debut novel, Masques, published in 1993. Briggs primarily works within the fantasy and urban fantasy genres. She currently resides in Benton City, Washington.

Her most recognized work is the Mercy Thompson series, which launched with the novel Moon Called in 2006. This series, featuring the protagonist Mercedes Thompson and elements of the Fae, has achieved significant commercial success, with multiple books appearing on bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. Briggs also penned the Alpha and Omega series, which is interconnected with the Mercyverse and focuses on characters Anna Latham and Charles Cornick.

Patricia Briggs established herself as a fantasy writer in 1993, with her first published novel being Masques. Her career has largely focused on the urban fantasy genre, a subgenre that blends magic and supernatural elements with contemporary settings. Briggs's most prominent contribution to this field is the Mercy Thompson series, which commenced in 2006 with the release of Moon Called. This series follows the adventures of Mercedes Thompson, a shapeshifter navigating a world populated by various supernatural beings, including those from the land of the Fae. The success of the Mercy Thompson series is evidenced by its frequent appearance on major bestseller lists, such as USA Today and The New York Times.

The fictional universe created by Patricia Briggs, often referred to as the 'Mercyverse,' encompasses multiple interconnected series. The Mercy Thompson series is central to this universe, but Briggs also developed the Alpha and Omega series. This latter series, while distinct, is woven into the larger narrative and runs parallel to the events of the Mercy Thompson books. It centers on Anna Latham, a werewolf, and Charles Cornick, who holds the position of enforcer for North American werewolves. The publication timeline indicates that the Alpha and Omega series begins around the same time as the initial Mercy Thompson novel, with later entries directly following its events, creating a layered and evolving narrative landscape for readers.