Carole Wilkinson is an acclaimed Australian writer, renowned for her book Dragonkeeper (2003). Born in England in 1950, she moved to Australia with her family at the age of 12 and now resides in Melbourne with her husband, John.

Wilkinson began her writing career later in life, nearly at the age of 40, after working as a laboratory assistant where she dealt with blood and brains, a job she enjoyed despite its gory nature. Driven by a persistent feeling that she was meant to do something else, she pursued writing and attended university, where she wrote her first novel.

Her initial manuscript was not well-received, yet a friend in the publishing industry saw potential in her work and encouraged her to write a teenage novel, which led to her first publication, 'Stagefright,' in 1996. Inspired by her daughter’s high school experiences, this novel marked the start of her successful writing career.

Despite starting late, Wilkinson has been prolific, publishing over 30 books, along with short stories, a telemovie, and scripts for television and planetariums. Her journey as a writer highlights her creative resilience and dedication to storytelling.