Courtney Lillard was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin as the middle of five children. Growing up, she enjoyed music and theater, and participating in both allowed her to develop a deeper interest in the arts. She graduated from Quincy University in 2015 with a B.A. degree in Broadcasting and Public Relations Communications and from Western Illinois University in 2018 with a M.A. degree in Communication Studies.
Outside of writing, Lillard is a fan of reading fantasy stories and the classics. Her other hobbies include cooking, playing video games, relaxing by the pool, and doing puzzles, at least until her cat knocks the pieces off the table.