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Dorothy Porter was born in Sydney in 1954. She has published five books of poetry, three verse novels and two novels for young adults.

Dorothy graduated from Sydney University in 1975 with a BA in English and History. She also has a Diploma of Education from Sydney Teacher's College. In the past, Dorothy supported her writing with casual teaching. She was a part-time lecturer in writing at the University of Technology in Sydney.

Dorothy is a highly regarded performer of her own work. She has travelled extensively and has a strong interest in reading, movies, music and particularly wildlife and the environment (she is a keen bird watcher).

Although the recipient of much critical acclaim prior to the release of The Monkey's Mask, it is the crime thriller in verse that has set her on course for an international writing career. Winner of The Age Poetry Book of the Year award and the National Book Council 'Banjo' for Poetry, The Monkey's Mask was also short listed for the NSW State Literary awards, the Bookseller's Book of the Year and the Australian Literature Society's Gold Medal. In October 1995, it was published in America and Canada to great acclaim, and Dorothy toured North America, being one of the hits of the prestigious Toronto Harbourfront literary festival.

In 1997, a UK edition of The Monkey's Mask was published by Serpent's Tail, London and nominated as one of the Best Books of the Year in The Times. In 1997, The Monkey's Mask was also published in Germany. One of the producers of Jane Campion's An Angel At My Table currently has an option on the film rights to the book. The Monkey's Mask is now one of the fastest selling works of poetry ever published in Australia.

Crete, was her first collection of poetry since 1989, and was one of the most eagerly awaited volumes of Australian poetry in recent years. It was launched during the 1996 Adelaide Writers' Week, and was accompanied by the limited edition re-release of an earlier collection, Driving Too Fast (which was short listed for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards in 1990).

Crete has been an instant success, breaking sales records for poetry and even running into the Australian newspaper's best seller list. Crete was also short listed for the 1996 National Book Council Banjo Awards and the Colin Roderick Award in 1997.

Dorothy now lives in Melbourne, Australia, since her move from Sydney in 1993. She is currently working on a new verse novel.