Originally a copywriter in Australian, American and UK advertising, Darleen Bungey worked as an associate editor and freelance journalist for a number of prestigious British-based magazines while she raised a family in London. For the greater part of the nineties she lived between London and New York City.  In 1999 she began researching and writing her first book, a biography of Arthur Boyd, both for publication and as a doctorate. In 2002 she returned to her hometown of Sydney.  She now lives between Sydney and Federal in the Byron Bay Hinterland with her husband, Geoffrey Cousins and their dog, Mr Finn. 

A multiple award-winning author, Darleen Bungey's first book Arthur Boyd: A Life received the ABIA Biography of the Year and was joint winner of the FAW Melbourne University Publishing Award in the 2007 National Literary Awards. It was also shortlisted for the 2008 Queensland Premier’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction and the 2009 Dobbie Literary Award.

Her second book, John Olsen: An Artist's Life, was a joint winner of the Prime Minister's Literary Award and was shortlisted for the 2016 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards and the 2015 Nib Literary Award.

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Daddy Cool is her third book.