Known for her popular young adult novels To the Moon and Back and Hitler's Daughter, this Australian writer received the Children's Book of the Year/Eve Pownall Award for the former work and the Children's Book Council of Australia's annual award for the latter.
Before publishing Rain Stones, her debut work of children's fiction, she penned several nonfiction books on the subject of gardening.
Her 2002 picture book Diary of a Wombat was designated an American Library Association Notable Children's Book.
She was raised primarily in Brisbane, Australia. She and her husband, Bryan Sullivan, later settled in Australia's Araluen valley.
She and her contemporary and fellow children's book author, Alison Lester, both received Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.