Ruth Starke is based in Adelaide, South Australia, and has written largely for children and young adults.
Starke gained a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours at Flinders University, winning two university awards. She later gained a PhD from Flinders. Starke has worked in a number of different jobs both in Australia and overseas, including public relations and travel marketing. She turned to writing fiction in 1992. She teaches Creative Writing at Flinders University and has contributed to various literary magazines.
Starke is a member of Ekidnas (Children's Bookwriters' Group) and the Australian Society of Authors. She has served as Chair of the Board of Management of the South Australian Writers' Centre. She was on the Board of Allwrite! SA Youth Literature Festival 1993-1997.