Holly Peterson is an American novelist, journalist, and former television producer born in 1964 in Chicago, Illinois. She is the daughter of Peter G. Peterson, a prominent investment banker, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Blackstone Group, and Sally Hornbogen Peterson, a psychologist. Her stepmother is Joan Ganz Cooney, co-creator of Sesame Street, and her stepfather is Michael Carlisle, a literary agent. Raised in a family with significant influence in business and media, Peterson attended Phillips Academy and graduated from Brown University. She began her career in journalism and media production, working as an Emmy Award-winning producer for ABC News for over a decade, covering global politics. She later served as a contributing editor for Newsweek and editor-at-large for Talk magazine under Tina Brown. Transitioning to authorship in 2007, Peterson achieved commercial success with her debut novel, The Manny, a New York Times bestseller that satirized affluent New York lifestyles. She has since published additional works, including novels exploring themes of wealth, family, and social dynamics in elite circles. Her writing has appeared in prestigious outlets such as The New York Times, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and The Daily Beast. Peterson is known for her insider perspective on high society, drawing from her personal experiences in New York and the Hamptons. She was married to Richard A. Kimball Jr. from 1994 to 2009 and has three children; she resides in New York City. Currently, she is developing a novel set in the Hamptons and an outdoor cooking cookbook, while continuing to contribute articles on topics like etiquette, politics, and social issues.