Karen Foxlee was born in Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia on February 3, 1971. Before becoming an author, she worked as a registered nurse. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing from the University of the Sunshine Coast. Her first novel, The Anatomy of Wings, was published in 2007. It won the Emerging Author Award at the 2006 Queensland Premier's Literary Award, The Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book South East Asia Pacific Region, and The Dobbie Award. Her other works include The Midnight Dress.