Thalia grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Melbourne with a mum who tried to save battery hens by on-selling them as backyard chickens. Her dad worked as an industrial chemist while also growing strawberries, carrots and Christmas trees on the farm. It was not unusual to find plant shoots in the freezer, or the hair dryer missing because it was needed to heat one of her dad’s experiments. Thalia's childhood showed her the magic that can happen when science and nature combine with human creativity. These days, Thalia lives in regional Victoria and works as a freelance writer and editor. She has published 20 books for children and teenagers, including the Lifespan of Starlight trilogy and many of the books in the best-selling Go Girl series.