Colin Hoover was born on December 11, 1979, in Sulfur Springs, Texas, to her father, Vanoy Feet and Eddie Fennell. She grew up in Saltillo, Texas, and graduated from Saltillo High School in 1998. In 2000, she married Heath Hoover, with whom she had three sons. Hoover graduated from Texas A & M-Commerce with a degree in Social Work. She worked in many social and teaching jobs until she started her writing career. In November 2011, Hoover began her first novel, Slammed, with no intention of publishing. It was inspired by the lyric, "You Decide What You Should Be and What You Do," from the Avett Brothers song, "Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise." Because of this, she incorporated the Avett Brothers' lyrics throughout the story. A few months later, her novel was reviewed and given 5 stars by a major book blogger, Maryse Black. After that, sales increased rapidly, and both Slammed and its sequel, Point of Retreat, made the New York Times Best Seller list.