Prior was born in 1963 in
Brisbane,
Australia, where she also currently lives with her husband and daughter.[1] She is best known for her internationally successful children's fantasy series, Lily Quench, which has been published in more than twenty countries. Her first fiction book, The Amazing Adventures of Amabel, was published in 1990.[2] She is also the author of The Minivers series and many other books including the picture book PomPom, illustrated by long-time collaborator,
Cheryl Orsini, and three picture books about The Paw, illustrated by
Terry Denton. Her most recent book is The Fairy Dancers, also illustrated by Cheryl Orsini.[2] Prior's work has been a finalist at the
Children's Book Council of Australia Awards as well as being honoured and named as notable.[2] Her book, Fireworks and Darkness, won the 2003
Davitt Awards for best young-adult novel and Lily Quench and the Lighthouse of Skellig Mor won the 2003
Aurealis Award for best children's short fiction.[3][4] She has also been nominated for an
Aurealis Award on three other occasions for best short fiction, long fiction and young-adult novel.[5]