Lian Hearn, born as Gillian Margaret Hanson on 29 August 1942, is an English-born author known for her children's books, plays, and the renowned Tales of the Otori series. Her debut, Space Demons, published in 1986, introduced themes of growing up and fantasy worlds. She has authored over 30 books and several plays.

In 2001, Rubinstein adopted the pseudonym Lian Hearn to publish Across the Nightingale Floor, the first of the Tales of the Otori series, which is set in a fictional island nation resembling feudal Japan. Lian Hearn's works have been acclaimed for their intricate plots and rich cultural settings, selling over four million copies worldwide and translated into nearly forty languages.

The name "Lian" was inspired by a childhood nickname, and "Hearn" is thought to reference herons, a theme in her writing, or possibly after Lafcadio Hearn, a writer known for Japanese mythology. Lian Hearn resides in Mullumbimby, New South Wales.