Ballantine went first to Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, and then graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a BA in English and Political Science. She also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Library Studies from The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.
In 2006 Ballantine became the first New Zealand author to podcast her novel.
Ballantine signed a two book deal in 2009 with Ace Books with the first book to come out in 2010.
In 2010 Eos Books bought two steampunk novels she co-wrote with Tee Morris to come out in 2011 and 2012.