Courtney Pahlke graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in psychology and a secondary in creative writing. She worked at the Crisis Center in Iowa city leading to graduation day, where she went back home to Illinois with a plan. Courtney hoped to gain her masters degree in forensic psychology at a school in Chicago, while working for her dad, to pay for school. After the first year working for her dad's company, she decided not to continue on with school and grow the family business instead. When Pahlke is not brainstorming the next plot for the Life Force Preserve series, she is growing her father's empire with her brother Garrett at Top Coverage, taking pictures of food or taking a crack at a new recipe. Courtney also writes for The SHOP national automotive magazine.