Dana Claire Simpson was born in Gig Harbor, Washington, and spent her childhood sketching. Despite spending all of her time sketching, and not always for credit, she eventually graduated from The Evergreen State College. She created the internet comic series Ozy and Millie from 1998 until 2008. Andrews McMeel Syndication signed her to a development agreement for Heavenly Nostrils, which was eventually renamed Phoebe and Her Unicorn, after she won the Amazon-sponsored Comic Strip Superstar Contest in 2009. She now lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her tech-savvy husband and her obnoxious cat.