Trudi Canavan was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 23 October 1969. She is a celebrated Australian writer of fantasy novels, prominently known for her best-selling fantasy trilogies The Black Magician and Age of the Five. Prior to securing her reputation as a novelist, Canavan worked as a graphic designer. Her career breakthrough came in 1999 when she won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story with "Whispers of the Mist Children". That same year, she was granted a writer's residency at Varuna Writers’ Centre in Katoomba, New South Wales.

Canavan’s debut trilogy, The Black Magician, quickly captured the imagination of readers worldwide. Following this success, she embarked on writing Age of the Five. In 2012, she completed her third trilogy, The Traitor Spy, concluding with The Traitor Queen. Canavan then shifted her creative focus to the Millennium's Rule series, a fantasy realm brimming with multiple worlds that characters can traverse. Initially envisioned as a trilogy, this series was extended with a fourth and final book, demonstrating Canavan’s prolific nature and the expansive scope of her imagination.

Apart from her notable literary achievements, Canavan has also been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 2009. Her works have not only achieved critical acclaim but have also entered Australian top ten SF bestseller lists, marking her as a significant figure in contemporary fantasy literature.