Nene Gare was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1919. She lived most of her life in Western Australia, and is best known for her writing and artwork inspired by the contemporary hardships of Aboriginals in rural communities.
Shareena Clanton graduated from WAAPA in 2010. In 2013, she was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Role in a Television Drama for her performance in the ABC series Redfern Now. Her other television credits include a regular role in Wentworth and a guest role in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. At the time of Nene Gare writing The Fringe Dwellers, Shareena's family lived in Geraldton and serve as a chief inspiration for the book's characters.