Anna Carey grew up in North Queensland and was educated at All Hallows School, Brisbane. During the 1920s she worked as a journalist at the Cairns Post, Smith's Weekly (Sydney), the Truth (Brisbane), the Daily Standard (Brisbane) and the Sunday Times (Sydney). She also wrote for the Triad, using the name Helen Raine Lester. In 1926-1927 she briefly worked at the Straits Echo, at Penang, but returned to Australia following illness. In the 1920s, Carey appears to have been friendly with journalist Ernestine Hill (nee Hemmings), who also attended All Hallows School.

Further biographical details remain to be established.