In 1951 Anu Kaipiainen graduated from Kallio Co-Educational High School in Helsinki. In 1955 she graduated with a Master's Degree in Philosophy from the University of Helsinki. After university studies she worked as a mother tongue teacher (Finnish) in Kiuruvesi, Helsinki, Kauniainen, Viinijärvi and Oulu. She wrote literary reviews for newspapers, as well.
The debut novel ”Utuiset neulat” (Hazy Needles) was published in 1960, and since then Kaipainen published novels regularly. She became a full-time writer in 1967. In addition to poems and novels, Kaipainen wrote numerous theater and TV dramas. Kaipainen has also published a collection of poems in 1961.
Anu Kaipainen was awarded State Awards for Literature in 1967 and 1969 and a State Artist's Pension since 1994. In 2002, her book «Granaattiomena» (Pomegranate) was nominated for the Finlandia Award.
Personal live:
Anu Kaipainen, then Mustonen, was married in 1955 with Osmo Kaipainen, who died in 1985. Their eldest son, Jouni Kaipainen (1956–2015), was a composer.