Wilkinson's family emigrated to Australia when she was 12 in 1963. Up to the age of 40 she worked as a laboratory assistant until she decided on a change of career.

To help her achieve her goal she studied at a tertiary level. During her time at University she showed some of her writing to a friend who worked in the publishing industry. This sample led to a commission to write her first novel for teenagers.

Since that time she has gone on to write numerous books for educational and trade publishers in Australia. She has also written episodes for children's television production.

Wilkinson's daughter, Lili Wilkinson, also writes for Young Adults.

Her book Dragonkeeper has been very successful. The story set in Han dynasty China describes the adventures of Ping and an ageing dragon. Published in 2003 by Black Dog Books, it won a number of awards including

• 2006 Kalbacher Klapperschlange (German Children's Choice Award)
• 2004 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award (Young Readers)
• 2004 Queensland Premier's Literary Award (Best Children's Book)
• 2003 Aurealis Award (Young Adults)

It was also shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards (2004) for the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Books. The book secured US Publication and the US version of the book was published in April 2005. It was published in the UK on 30 April 2005.

The sequel to Dragon Keeper - Garden of the Purple Dragon was published in Australia in September 2005.Also Dragon Moon later on. Now there is also a prequel to Dragonkeeper, a book called Dragon Dawn about Danzi's adventures before he was put in Huangling Mountain.

Dragonkeeper series

• Dragonkeeper (2005)
• Garden of the Purple Dragon (Australia - 2005) (UK - 2 February 2007) (US - 1 July 2007)
• Dragon Moon (Australia - 2007)
• Dragon Dawn

Ramose series

• Prince in Exile (2003)
• Ramose and the Tomb Robbers (2003)
• Sting of the Scorpion (2006)
• Wrath of Ra (2006)

The Drum series

• Black Snake (2002)
• Fire in the Belly (2004)
• Alexander the Great (2004)

Other books

• Stagefright (1996)
• Deepwater (1999)
• Out of Orbit (1999)
• Bertrand's Quest (2000)
• Knight's Progress (2000)
• Watery Graves (2000)
• Careless Wishes (2001)
• Careless Wishes (2001)
• Sugar Sugar (2010)

Carole WilkinsonCarole Wilkinson