Marion Francis Wood was born in Manly, NSW and grew up in the area. She taught in South Australian High Schools in the 1970's and returned to Sydney in 1980. She and her husband Eric, raised their three children on a five acre property in Kenthurst, where they were very involved in community activities. After Eric's death, Marion often visited Manly on the weekends, and it was on these visits that she met and became friendly with Bourke.

When she retired from teaching, she asked Bourke if she could write his story. She feels privileged that he trusted her, a novice writer, with the task.

Marion lives in Manly with her husband, Rolf.