Karen Viggers was born in Melbourne, Australia, and grew up in the Dandenong Ranges riding horses and writing stories. She studied Veterinary Science at Melbourne University, and then worked in mixed animal practice for seven years before completing a PhD at the Australian National University, Canberra, in wildlife health from which she published numerous scientific papers.

Since then she has worked on a wide range of Australian native animals in many different natural environments.

She lives in Canberra with her husband and two children. She works part-time in veterinary practice, provides veterinary support for biologists studying native animals, and writes most days. Karen’s first novel, The Stranding, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2008 and her second novel, The Lightkeeper’s Wife, also published by Allen & Unwin will be released in February 2011