Timothy John Winton is an Australian writer known for his novels, children's books, non-fiction books, and short stories. Winton was born on 4 August 1960 in Perth, Western Australia, but moved at a young age to the small country town of Albany. While studying at Curtin University of Technology, he wrote his first novel, An Open Swimmer, which won The Australian/Vogel Literary Award in 1981, launching his writing career.

Winton has received numerous accolades for his work; he has won the Miles Franklin Award four times, with his second book, Shallows, winning the award in 1984. His novel Cloudstreet, published in 1991, cemented his career and economic future. In 1995, his novel The Riders was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, as was his 2002 book, Dirt Music. Both novels are currently being adapted for film.

In 1997, Tim Winton was named a Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia, recognizing his significant contribution to Australian literature.