Thirteen Reasons Why is a novel written by Jay Asher. The author was born in Arcadia in California on September 30, 1975. Jay is a writer of contemporary novels for teens. He is best known for writing Thirteen Reasons Why. The author is married to Joan Marie. Together they have a son named Isaiah Nathan.

Besides working as a writer, Asher has worked in a shoe store, libraries, and bookstores. Asher admits that his work experiences have affected some aspects of his writing. The setting in Thirteen Reasons Why is inspired by his own adolescence. For example, Crestmont, the town the action is set in, is a composite of the two cities he was growing up in.

The high school student’s suicide is inspired by a one of Jay’s own experiences. A close relative of Asher attempted suicide when she was at the same age as Hannah. Luckily, she survived the attempt, but this experience made him want to speak openly about suicide. The idea of Clay and the cassettes came from a visit on an audio-tour in Las Vegas.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher