Samela Harris was born in Adelaide. She worked as a journalist in London and Edinburgh, pausing to marry, bear two sons and spend five years as an organic market gardener in lush Surrey, England. It was there that her interest in hearty home cookery developed.
Returning to Australia as a supporting mother, Samela made bountiful shoestring budget meals the core of a secure environment for her sons. It was such an inviting world that increasing numbers of boys kept hanging around for meals - and then just staying.
Thus the House of the Raising Sons was born, and Samela's amusing tales of life with the lads and her economical recipes became a popular newspaper column. She works at The Advertiser as a senior opinions columnist and issues writer, Internet columnist, as well as food columnist.
Samela is the daughter of Australian poet and social commentator, the late Max Harris.