Candice Millard (b. 1968) is an American writer and journalist. Growing up in the predominantly blue-collar town of Lexington, Ohio, Millard spent most of her childhood lost in a library book. She grew up loving to read, which is partly why she wanted to be a storyteller. She previously worked as an editor and writer for National Geographic. During her time at National Geographic, she learned that one of the best ways to tell an immersive story was to travel to where the story took place. For her, it is important to get to know a place, including its sounds, smells, and what it feels like. She also tries to travel to places around the same time of year when the characters in her book visited them. Before Millard begins writing, she spends about two years researching, planning, and outlining each book. Millard is best known for her narrative history work.

While in her mid-30s, Millard quit her job at National Geographic and moved to Kansas City to be with her husband and become a full-time author. She is currently the author of several bestselling books. River of the Gods (2022) is Millard’s fourth book. In her previous three books, Millard focused on one famous individual and a story that took place within a few months.