She studied at the University of Sydney where she took history before teaching for two years in the rural town of Picton near Sydney. In the mid-1970s she lived for five years in Italy where she taught English and then London, where she began to write her first novel, ''Eleanor Elizabeth''. Once returned from overseas she taught at the University of Sydney.
In the last twenty years, she has written twenty books and taught occasional courses in creative writing. She specialises in picture books, novels for young children and also novels for slightly older readers. She's also written scripts for the ABC's ''Bananas in Pyjamas'' and ''Magic Mountain''. She is married to scientist Euan Tovey, has three adult daughters and lives in Sydney's inner west. She is currently a Fellow on the World Research, Advisory and Education Team of [https://thesector.com.au/2018/10/11/mindchamps-expands-australian-presence/ MindChamps] with a focus on education.
