Ruth Starke, an Adelaide-based author, wrote largely for children and young adults.
Starke gained a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours at Flinders University, winning two university awards. She later gained a PhD, also from Flinders. Starke has worked in several different jobs both in Australia and overseas, including public relations and travel marketing. She turned to writing fiction in 1992.
Starke taught Creative Writing at Flinders University and contributed to various literary magazines. She was a member of Ekidnas (Children's Bookwriters' Group) and the Australian Society of Authors. She served as Chair of the Board of Management of the South Australian Writers' Centre and was on the Board of Allwrite! SA Youth Literature Festival 1993-1997.