Kathryn Barker was born in Canberra, started primary school in Tokyo and finished high school in the woods outside Olympia, Washington State. 

In the years that followed she went to university, became a lawyer, completed her masters in film production and worked in television. 

Kathryn's first novel, In the Skin of a Monster, was published to high acclaim winning the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel, being short-listed for two Davitt Awards and recognised as  a CBCA Notable Book. 

Waking Romeo is her second novel, published by Flatiron Books internationally and Allen & Unwin in Australia and New Zealand.

Kathryn lives in Sydney with her family.