Orson Scott Card was born in Richland in the state of Washington. He has also lived in California, Arizona, and Utah. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a two year mission for The Church in Brazil. He received a degree from Brigham Young University in 1975 and a degree from the University of Utah in 1981.

He is the author of the novels Ender's Game and its sequels, Speaker for the Dead and Ender's Shadow, which are widely read by adults and younger readers, and are increasingly used in schools. Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead have been awarded both the Hugo and the Nebula Awards. Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Stone Tables, Rachel and Leah), the American frontier fantasy series The Tales of Alvin Maker (beginning with Seventh Son), poetry (An Open Book), and many plays and scripts.

He recently began a long-term position as a professor of writing and literature at Southern Virginia University. Card lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, with his wife, Kristine Allen Card, and their youngest child, Zina Margaret.