Josh Kilmer-Purcell (birthname: Joshua Gordon Kilmer) was born in Albany, New York, and raised in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin during his early childhood. He attended high school in Mansfield, Massachusetts, going on to Michigan State University, where he studied creative writing with the poet Diane Wakoski, graduating with a BA in English Literature in 1991. He added his stepfather's surname "Purcell" in 1990. He met partner, now fiancé, Dr. Brent Ridge in New York City in 2000.

Kilmer-Purcell has worked at several Manhattan advertising agencies, including Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners (now known as KBS+); Merkley, Newman, Harty (now known as Merkley+Partners); TBWA\Chiat\Day; SS+K; and JWT. Most speculation regarding the events in "I Am Not Myself These Days: A Memoir," was that those events took place while he was working at Merkley Newman Harty.

In addition to the memoir "I Am Not Myself These Days: A Memoir," (2006), Kilmer-Purcell has written or co-written three other books, including second memoir "Hardcover: The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentlemen Farmers: An Unconventional Memoir (2010); a novel, "Candy Everybody Wants" (2008); and a cookbook, "The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook" (2011, with co-authors Brent Ridge and Sandy Gluck). All four books have appeared on bestseller lists. He has also appeared in the media as his drag alter-ego, Aqua.

In 2008 Kilmer-Purcell and his partner launched Beekman 1802, a green lifestyle company inspired by their farm in Sharon Springs, New York.