The granddaughter of Finnish immigrants, Foxlee grew up in Mount Isa but came to Brisbane when she was seventeen. She has worked most of her life as a Registered Nurse.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in creative writing, and has written for children and adults. Her first novel, The Anatomy of Wings, was published in 2007 and won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book. Her second novel The Midnight Dress, won the Sisters in Crime Best Young Adult Debut Crime Novel.
Karen is based in South-East Queensland.