Jeni Mawter, also published as J.A. Mawter, worked as a speech pathologist, specialising in adult neurological disorders, before turning to writing. She completed a Master of Arts in Children's Literature at Macquarie University and gained a Diploma in Book Editing and Publishing from Macleay College. Mawter taught Creative Writing at Macquarie University, ran workshops on Writing for Children, edited four children's books and was a speaker for the lateral learning and Show & Tell Speakers' Agencies.
Mawter wrote collections of cheeky stories that were particularly aimed at reluctant boy readers in the lower high school market. She also published three educational fiction books, Maisie's Race (2000), Go the Mobile (2001) and The Most Unusual Pet (2001). She was also involved in judging the Bill Coppell Young Writer's Competition and the national Wakakirri Story-Writing Competition.
As well as fiction, Mawter published in non-fiction, writing for Scholastic Australia's Classroom Focus - Special Days (2001), Natural Disasters (2001), Feelings (2002), Homes and Families (2002), Food (2003), The Snowy Mountains Scheme (2003) and The Changing Face of Xmas in Australia: From Convict Era to Present (2004).