Emma Magenta was born in Sydney in 1972. Her drawing talent was recognised at an early age when she was commended for “The Best Depiction of Samson” in a school art competition. Later, and perhaps on this merit alone, she attended art school for several years.

She wrote and illustrated her first book The Peril of Magnificent Love in 2004, which won The Murdoch Books Best Designed Illustrated Book the same year.

It was also nominated for the 2005 Book Illustration Award by The National Cartoonists Society in the U.S, and in 2006, it was translated into Russian.

her second book 'A Gorgeous Sense of Hope' has recently been released in December 2006 in North America and Australia.