In addition to writing for newspapers, magazines and federal government departments, she has taught history and worked as an archivist. She has published eleven non-fiction works, four of which are trade books.

From her Ottawa base, Valerie Knowles continues to write independent non-fiction books and to accept commissioned writing work. Her focus remains on Canadian and Ottawa political and social history.

Montreal-born Valerie Knowles is an Ottawa writer who has a B.A. (Honours History) from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, an M.A. (History) from McGill University, Montreal, and a B.J. from Carleton University, Ottawa.