Josie Montano grew up in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, and has worked in the primary school environment as a teacher-aide, secretary and library-aide. In 2006 she was studying for a Masters degree in speculative fiction at the Queensland University of Technology. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing from Queensland University of Technology.

Since her son was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, she has self-published a series of booklets on the subject under the name of Josie Santomauro.