J.C. Peterson

J.C. Peterson is a Denver-based writer of contemporary teen fiction whose Barnes sisters stories recast Jane Austen character types in present-day coming-of-age plots. Being Mary Bennet, her debut, follows Marnie Barnes after school setbacks force her to recognize that her carefully managed life resembles the overlooked Bennet sister more than Elizabeth. Friendship, an animal shelter, a rescue dog, and a tentative romance help Marnie reconsider what it means to be the central figure in her own story. Lola at Last shifts attention to her sister, imagining a modern Lydia Bennet whose disastrous boat party leads to a summer with the nonprofit Hike Like a Girl. HarperTeen published the two companion novels in 2022 and 2023. Peterson studied journalism at Michigan State University and previously worked in journalism and editing before moving into freelance writing and fiction. Her novels use Austen references as playful frameworks, but their strongest interest lies in flawed sisters learning to see other people clearly, accept accountability, and define themselves beyond familiar literary roles with greater honesty.