I.K. Curtis was born in the USSR. She first studied Chemical Engineering at the Kazan Chemical Technology University before deciding to pursue a career in children’s education. She studied linguistics at the Kazan Pedagogical University, focusing on the English language, which she then taught at primary schools for nearly a decade until her move to Australia. In Australia, I.K. Curtis worked as a childcare educator. Amy and Jamie is her first book, inspired by her close work with small children and the Australian bushland. She now resides in Queensland with her husband Steve and her cat Joey.