Catherine S. McMullen is the daughter of Sean McMullen and Trish Smyth.

Born in 1988, she began writing at 7, came equal third in a national writing competition for a story written when she was 9, and sold her first story, ‘Teddy Cat’ to the British magazine Interzone at the age of 10. When Neil Gaiman met Catherine in 1998, he wrote in her copy of Stardust 'To Catherine, the oldest nine year old in the world.' She is the equal youngest person to ever to sell a story to an adult science-fiction magazine, had sold seven stories by the time she turned 13, and was a Guest of Honour at Canberra's CSFCON in 2002.

As she grew older, Catherine’s interest in narrative expanded to the study of film and tv. In August 2003 Catherine directed the short film Rollerboy, which won an award at the Wesley Wicflicks film festival.
In Year 11 and 12, Catherine undertook the International Baccalaureate, an international programme that is taught all over the world. In 2005, Catherine graduated from Wesley College, as Dux of the class of 2005, with a perfect IB score of 45 out of 45, earning her a ENTER score of 99.95. She was awarded an Australian Students Prize by the Australian Government for outstanding Year 12 results. During this time, she also received College Colours for Rowing in the Wesley Girls First VIII, and Honour Colours in Literature and Debating.

She is currently studying Arts (with a major in Film Studies) and Law at the University of Melbourne, on a full Melbourne National Scholarship. In 2008, Catherine began an exchange at the University of California, Santa Barbara, to soak up some sun while furthering her study of film. In April 2009 she began an internship, and she finishes the Arts bit of her double degree in June.

Catherine enjoys books, movies, tv, gaming and the internet, with friends occasionally fitting into her schedule somewhere. Her favourite shows include Arrested Development, Buffy, Firefly, Blackadder, The Simpsons, Dexter, Battlestar Galactica, Babylon 5, Red Dwarf and too many others to mention. Her favourite movies include Dr. Strangelove, Brick, Fight Club, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Terminator 1 & 2, and more that can’t fit here!

She was a founding wizard of the Wizarding Council for the Wizard Staff Fighting and Drinking Group at the University of Melbourne, owns way too many dvds, has a horrible sleeping pattern, is the proud owner of a level 70 Night-Elf Druid (retired) and loves telling long and inappropriate stories.