Born in Salina, Kansas, Antjea grew up in Brookville, Kansas, as an only child. After graduating from Ell-Saline High School in 2003 with a graduating class of 45 people, she spent two semesters at Friends University in Wichita before moving back to Salina. In 2007, Antjea made the move to Pittsburg specifically for Pitt State’s creative writing program, a decision that ultimately led to writing for Pittsburg’s Morning Sun.