Gillian Rubinstein, known by her pseudonym Lian Hearn, was born on 29 August 1942 in Potten End, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. Her journey into the realm of literature began early, with a childhood split between England and Nigeria, eventually moving to Australia in 1973. Rubinstein's literary career spans across a diverse spectrum, including eight plays, numerous short stories, articles, and over 30 books that have garnered critical acclaim and multiple awards.

Her debut in 1986, Space Demons, marked the beginning of an illustrious career that introduced themes of growing up and fantasy worlds, motifs recurrent in her later works. Books such as At Ardilla, Foxspell, and Galax-Arena have been celebrated for their narrative depth and imaginative realms, securing her position as a distinguished author in children's literature and beyond.

In 2001, under the pseudonym Lian Hearn, Rubinstein published Across the Nightingale Floor, the inaugural book of the Tales of the Otori series. This critically acclaimed series, set in a fictional island nation reminiscent of feudal Japan, marked her first foray into adult literature and became a best-seller. The name 'Lian' stems from a childhood nickname, while 'Hearn' is inspired by herons, a recurring motif in the series, and possibly borrowed from Lafcadio Hearn, a pioneer in introducing Japanese mythology to the Western audience.

Currently residing in Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Gillian Rubinstein's legacy as Lian Hearn continues to thrive, with the Tales of the Otori series selling more than four million copies worldwide and being translated into nearly forty languages. The series includes titles such as Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow, Brilliance of the Moon, The Harsh Cry of the Heron, and Heaven's Net is Wide. Following the success of the Otori series, standalone novels Blossoms and Shadows and The Storyteller and His Three Daughters, also set in Japan, were released. Hearn's forthcoming series, The Tale of Shikanoko, debuted with Emperor of Eight Islands in April 2016, followed by three more volumes, cementing her status as an influential voice in the realm of fantasy and historical fiction.