Juliet Marillier was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, and grew up surrounded by Celtic music and stories. Her own Celtic-Gaelic roots inspired her to write her first series, the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Juliet was educated at the University of Otago, where she majored in music and languages, graduating BA and Bachelor of Music (Hons). Her lifelong interest in history, folklore, and mythology has had a major influence on her writing.

Juliet is the author of twenty-one historical fantasy novels for adults and young adults, as well as a book of short fiction. Juliet's novels and short stories have won many awards. She currently resides in a 110-year-old cottage in a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia. When not writing, she tends to her small pack of rescue dogs.