Patricia O'Brien grew up in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. She received a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in teaching from Saint Joseph's University, and a M.A. in Contemporary British and Irish Literature from West Chester University.
O'Brien's poems have appeared in Daedalus, The English Journal, Mad Poets Review, Schuylkill Valley Journal of the Arts, Ink, Philadelphia Stories, and Philadelphia Poets.
O'Brien won first prize from the John and Rose Petracca and Family Award for "Judy's Garden" as well as an honorable mention for her poem "Before It's Gone" from Philadelphia Poets. Her poem "Devon Drive" was reprinted in PS Books Anthology: the Best of the Best.
O'Brien taught literature and rhetoric at Villa Maria Academy and creative writing at Penn State Brandywine. Currently she works as a care management associate for Aetna. She and her husband live in West Chester, Pennsylvania with their two daughters and chocolate Labrador.