Elaine Russell was born in Tingha, northern New South Wales, in 1941. She spent most of her childhood on the Aboriginal mission at Lake Cargelligo, where her father was a handyman. In 1993, Elaine enrolled in a visual arts course and was finally able to realise her lifelong ambition to be a painter. Her work has been displayed - and is held by - museums and galleries around the world. Elaine′s first book, A is for Aunty (ABC Books, 2000), was shortlisted for the Picture Book Award in the 2001 Children′s Book Council of Australia Awards, and was an Eve Pownall Information Book Honour Book.