Varian Johnson was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina with his twin brother and younger sister. He was a very good student, graduating as co-valedictorian with his twin brother. While in high school, he was most successful in math and science, but enjoyed English classes also.

After graduating high school he went to the University of Oklahoma where he received a degree in Civil Engineering. It was while he was a student at OU that he wrote his first published piece or writing, A Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid.

While working as an engineer, he attended the Vermont College of Fine Arts where he graduated with a MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

Varian currently works as a Civil Engineer, building bridges in Texas, as well as authoring multiple novels. He also is co-founder of The Brown Bookshelf, an organization that “is designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young authors”. He and his wife Crystal live in Austin, Texas.