Emily Rodda, whose real name is Jennifer Rowe, was born in Sydney, Australia. She graduated from the University of Sydney in 1973 with an MA (Hons) in English Literature. Her career began in publishing as a book editor, eventually becoming the Publisher at Angus & Robertson and later the Editor of the Australian Women's Weekly.

Rodda's first book, Something Special, was published in 1984 and won the Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award. She has since authored over 100 children's books, including the internationally best-selling Deltora Quest and Rowan of Rin series. Under her real name, Jennifer Rowe, she writes mystery novels for adults and has contributed to the TV series Murder Call.

She has won the Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the Year for Younger Readers Award six times and has received numerous other awards, including the Dromkeen Medal and an honorary doctorate from the University of Western Sydney. In 2019, she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for her services to Australian literature.

Emily Rodda is passionate about children's reading, believing that books stimulate the imagination and teach logic and empathy in a way that digital media cannot. She and her husband Bob live in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, enjoying life with their Labrador, Sadie.