Emerging Authors

Allan Dadd

I am an octogenarian who remembers the wonderment of children’s imagination and I like to write poems which appeal to children and maybe incorporate little positive messages within said poetry.  I write poetry and songs for pleasure.

Allison Howard

Allison Howard has been a practicing artist since 1995. Completing her Advanced Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing at Box Hill TAFE, then continuing academically by graduating from her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2008 at the Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin, New Zealand. Most recently Allison has graduated from Her Masters of Fine Arts degree from Monash University where she obtained the honour of best Thesis of 2011.

Amanda Lieber

Amanda Lieber is an aspiring children’s book author.  Having pursued an acting career for a number of years, she loves any opportunity to slip into the lives and stories of the characters she creates. She writes picture books and junior fiction.

Anita Kenny

I have always loved to express myself with words, words, words. And in the written format, I feel I can do this at my best with the utmost pleasure. I am the go-to person in the office when that formal email needs to be done, when a diplomatic response is required, when copy needs to adorn artwork or a media release must feature all the benefits in a readable format. I pride myself on this!

Artelle Lenthall

Yes, I am another one. It seems that in all of my research, blog searching and courses undertaken to learn about and improve my writing, I have come across so many of us. Strangely enough this is encouraging and daunting at the same time. Hello, my name is Artelle Lenthall and I am a wife, mother and Primary School teacher. Like so many before me, I am also (mixed feelings of discomfort and pride here) an emerging author.

Ashley Howland

Ashley Howland lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her husband Ross, two daughters, Maddy and Aijay, and her spoilt Labradors Stitch and Chewie.

Her girls inspire her every day to write children’s books. Stitch, Chewie and her previous dog - Obi often provide the material.

Carole Lander

Carole studied writing and editing at RMIT Melbourne after a long career in the education sector. She discovered her flair for writing for children when a her short story Mimi’s Gift  was bought and published by Ziptales (educational website in Australia and UK). Two of her stories are published in the Short Tales for Kids Anthologies – A Present from Paris (anthology 1) and Another World (anthology 2).

Caroline Tuohey

Caroline Tuohey grew up in a family where reading was very important and books were a constant companion. She always enjoyed writing and completed a correspondence course in creative writing after she finished university.

Dannielle Viera

I have been involved in the Australian publishing industry for over 20 years – first as a copywriter and then as an editor, project manager, proofreader and author.

Davey Tross

“What’s toothpaste made of?”, “The moon is following me!”, “What’s bigger than infinity?”, “My shadow keeps copying me!”

Just some of the brilliant questions and observations made by children everyday which could easily be titles for the perfect Picture Book.

David R Lewis

If you are reading this, we have two magic wonders in common: reading and writing.

Both spark imagination, adventure and discovery.

Debby Cameron

Grandmother of four who call me Nonnie, mother of two who call me Mom, and wife of one who calls me Babe, I have recently retired and moved to the Gold Coast from the U.S.A. with my Australian husband, black Lab, and tabby cat. I have applied for residency and, once eligible, will apply to become a citizen. I will, however, carry my accent with me to the grave.

Debra Tidball

Debra writes stories that speak into the lives of children. As a social worker, parent and author she understands the power of narrative to resonate with children and parents alike.

Her first picture book, When I see Grandma  was shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year 2014, won the children’s book category of the CALEB award 2014, received a seal of approval from Children’s Literary Classics, and has attracted phenomenal reviews.

Debra Williams

My name is Debra Williams. I am a new author, and my first Junior Fiction novel Harriet and the Secret Rings was self-published by my editor/assessor, children’s author Sally Odgers, last year. I have recently re-married following the sudden death of my first husband John in April 2016, and I have decided to keep my previous name of Clewer for my novels.

Dominique Potvin

I’m an aspiring writer from Perth, Western Australia. My short story, Aria in Australia is my first publication. It has been accepted in the Atlantis Short Story Contest Anthology for 2018. Due to come out, mid-October. I endeavour to have this story published as a picture book.

Effie Mourginos

Effie describes herself as a quirky daydreamer.  She lives in Brisbane with her husband, two teenage children and her cheeky Rhodesian Ridgeback, Mason.

Eileen Magee

Eileen Magee is rather devoted to tea and chocolate—and her dogs.

More inclined to be outside than in, poses somewhat of a contradiction to her persistent inclination to write. It does however, provide enormous inspiration.

Elaine Ouston

Elaine Ouston has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing. Through Gondor Writers' Centre she offers many services to authors interested in preparing for submission or self-publishing, including manuscript appraisals and edits and writing workshops. She organises literary festivals for Australian Literary Festivals and Book Fairs.

Elizabeth Macintosh

Elizabeth Macintosh is passionate about the beauty of words and manipulating language. She grew up on the North Coast of NSW and now lives in Coonabarabran, the Astronomy Capital of Australia.

Although she has published many articles in newspapers and national magazines, Elizabeth’s main interests are writing for children and YA. Her tales often have a humorous twist and many involve true events. She has won several awards for her adult short stories.

Fiona C Lloyd

Originally from the North East of England, Fiona has, so far, lived and worked in over twenty-three houses in ten cities, in six countries.

A natural creative, Fiona has been involved in film and theatre since childhood.  She sings soprano (both choral and opera), and works as a TV colourist, and a producer for Australian audio books and TV/film projects.

Geoff Richards

My name is Geoff Richards, I live on the Northern Beaches, with my wife and our two year old daughter.

I have always admired the art of writing and recently I took the first step by completing a creative writing course, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Georgie Donaghey

Georgie Donaghey discovered her love for creative writing at the age of seven. Apart from the colourful tales she would entertain her classmates and peers with, Georgie entered and won her first competition. Although her hand written award from the Sun Herald Junior writing competition is now faded and the poem she submitted a distant memory, her passion for writing developed into an obsession.

Hayley Hunkin

I have a degree in communication (print journalism) from Charles Sturt University in Bathurst and more than 20 years’ experience in writing in various fields.

After becoming a mother for the first time in 2013, I discovered a joy in reading a wide variety of children’s books to my son. I found delight in children’s books where the words were as carefully crafted as the imaginative illustrations.

Helen Carlaw

I grew up in New Zealand listening to dad recite quirky poems and rhyming stories. His stories, and the rhythmic way he told them, influenced my writing style. Writing became my passion, especially quirky, rhyming stories. Eventually, I became the family scribe.  Memorable events were captured by my poems and stories and rolled out on special occasions.

Helena Adeloju

There have always been stories weaving themselves together in my imagination, but now it is time to share them with others. I am an aspiring author who still craves the joy and magic of story time.

Holly Bidwell

 Holly is a storyteller who loves making children laugh. She is a member of the ACT Writers Centre, the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and is an accredited member of the ACT Storytellers Guild.

Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern

Jacqueline is an Australian author who adores exploring all the world has to offer! Her love of travel started at age three on moving from Sri Lanka to Australia with her parents. Having family sprinkled around the world; she has lived, worked and been on many adventures overseas. Her infatuation with the vibrancy found in each culture led her to complete a degree in the social sciences, undertake a Masters in International Development and work in international affairs.

Jan Latta

Jan Latta - author and wildlife photographer

In 1994 Jan came face-to-face with a mountain gorilla in Rwanda and the experience changed her life. When her guide said there were fewer than 600 mountain gorillas left in the wild, she wanted to do something to help. She decided to publish books for children on endangered animals. But first she became a wildlife photographer so she could tell the animal's stories in pictures as well as words.

Janelle Ballenden

My name is Janelle Ballenden and I love to write.

I sit at my laptop with the intention of writing for just 15 minutes, then 2 hours later, I have to stop to take a break. I become immersed in my characters and I can’t wait to see where they lead me.

Jaz Stutley

Jaz Stutley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Literature and Writing; an Associate Diploma of Editing; and a Graduate Diploma of Children’s Literature. (Deakin University.)

She is the author of more than fifty texts published by educational publishers of children’s books: short fiction, (fantasy and realism), non-fiction, poetry, songs and digital text.

Jeffery E Doherty

I make up stuff, I’m arty and I’m a bit of a nerd.

I love telling stories. One of those stories starts with "No, when I was in the Wiggles they already had a Jeff so I had to use my middle name..." Whole bunches of kids at the school where I work believe I was once Eddie the Evil Wiggle.

Jo Saunders

Jo Saunders here. I live on the glorious Gold Coast with my teenage son and school teacher husband. And yes, I’m another school teacher! I’m an English as a Second Language teacher, visiting 5 different state schools where I give specialist support to a whole bunch of gorgeous kids from all over the world, who now call the Gold Coast home.

June Perkins

I’m June Perkins, a creative writer for children and adults, in Brisbane, Queensland. I have two middles names after my grandmothers, Paisa (from Papua New Guinea) Kathleen (from England.)

I am passionate about poetry, music, stories, environment, and art, which reflect multiculturalism, I equally adore stories, reading, writing, digital storytelling, video, song writing and photography. I’ve done some photo and text exhibitions and plan to create more.

K.L. Hughes

Kate is a storyteller and emerging writer of children’s middle grade fiction. Blending fictional narrative conventions with an interpretation of the Australian landscape the world of Wylie Brown came about and with it her first manuscript provisionally titled Wylie Brown The Fool and His Boy.

Karen Hendriks

I live in Shellharbour, and love the natural beauty and the relaxed nature of our place by the sea. Shellharbour is the perfect place for a writer.

I have been a teacher for over twenty years and have always used children’s picture books as a core part of my literacy teaching. A long held goal is to write picture books and become a creator of story magic.

Kate O’Neil

Kate O’Neil loves words and, in particular, the way they get together in poems. She has taught Speech and Drama for several years at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and believes that the memorising and performing of poetry has immeasurable benefits for children.

Kelly McDonald

Kelly McDonald has been writing since she was in primary school. It was always her dream (and still is) to have her own stories published someday. After moving overseas for three years, she had the opportunity to sit down, learn her craft and develop her skills to a higher level. In 2011 She was ecstatic to come third in the CYA illustrators contest, and then was absolutely thrilled to come first in the same category in 2012.

In recent years she has begun to utilise her art to illustrate some of her own stories which she has been selling as personalised books. Her art work can also be found on a number of book jackets.

Laura Hockley

My name is Laura and I am an addict... oh hang on... oh... yes... I am a book addict. 

I've also most commonly been referred to as the most verbose person most of my friends and family know, so in a way, I guess words are my superpower (along with a liberal helping of caffeine!).

Leonie Hearn

‘Writing is my fun, I love putting pen to paper and watching a story unfold. I just know you’ll love my stories too!’

Leonie lives in Melbourne, Australia and works as a Copywriter by day, after a long career in Finance and a writer all other times.

Lesley Reed

As well as successfully completing a course in writing children’s stories through Adelaide TAFE: Centre for The Arts, Lesley Reed has published a children’s novel, several children’s short stories and published one or two stories for adults too.

Liane Morris

Liane Morris is an aspiring author of children's fiction. A keen traveller, Liane has used her experiences in exotic locations as well as the quirks of her 2 young boys to inspire her stories, which include a junior chapter book time slip series, several picture books and ideas for a middle grade chapter book series. Personally, Liane is outgoing (she does have a drama degree!) and believes that we create our own reality.

Lyndy Lou

Born into the bushveld of Africa I was always surrounded with campfire stories and African folklore. It was only natural that I would develop a love of storytelling.

Lynelle Kendall

Lynelle Kendall is an Early Childhood Educator, mother and writer.

She writes short form children’s fiction: poetry, picture books, short stories and early chapter books with a delightful mix of humour, enchantment and adventure. Her characters include a bumbling crew of pirates, a hyperactive mouse, a group of dinosaur circus performers, an ambitious robot, a fairy with attitude and children who discover magical creatures in their own backyard.

Maria Parenti-Baldey

Maria believes without children’s picture books there’d be no other books published. It’s their interminable value, that has generated Junior, Middle Grade and YA etc., She enjoys in those same genres.

Mark Carthew

Mark Carthew is an award winning Australian children’s author, poet, musician and educator well known for his books and series celebrating language, humour and wordplay.

Martine Miller

My name is Martine Miller I live on a farm on the beautiful NSW mid coast with my partner and 2 wonderful children aged 3 and 1.

I have always had a passion for writing and have quite a few projects I have done over the years, from children's novels to an array of picture books.

Mary Ann Napper

Mary Ann Napper is a published author. Her debut novel, Born to Fly, published in 2014, was followed by articles published in News.com au and Autism Parenting magazine (USA). Several of her short stories have been published in anthologies. Her next story, Nature’s Child, is due for publication at the end of 2018.

Matthew Shallvey

Having taken a left turn instead of a right and spent the last 25 years working in the telecommunications industry, Matthew Shallvey from the Northern Beaches in Sydney has taken the long way around with finally getting his act together and writing a book. Nine books in fact.

Maura Pierlot

Maura Pierlot is an emerging author and playwright whose first title (a music-themed children’s picture book, The Trouble in Tune Town, launched in May 2018), has received international recognition and is already in its second print run.

Megan Higginson

Megan Higginson writes her stories for children, and blogs in a small house in Gippsland, Victoria. The world inspires Megan; interesting people, animals, dreams, history, and science. She loves pinning her thoughts and observations in her notebook which is never far away from her person. Her favourite questions are, ‘Why?’ and ‘What if?’

Michelle Wanasundera

My name is Michelle, and I'm happily living in the Blue Mountains with my little family, after tree-change from the city. 

I adore books and have been known to be slightly intoxicated by bookshops need to stop myself from sniffing them all!

Nan Lloyd

I am 58 years old and live alone on a small farm in Beverley WA.

I run sheep and train and trial kelpies. I also instruct people in sheepdog training.

Patricia Simmons

After a long career in children’s services working in preschool, out of school hours care and museum settings Tricia is now a full time writer living on the beautiful south coast of NSW.

Paula Stevenson

I live in the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW on a cattle property where we breed Wagyu cattle. I am a voracious reader and I also write every day, as I am blessed with space and peace in an inspiring landscape, enclosed in a soft valley circled by violet mountain ranges.

Pauline Hosking

To pay the bills Pauline’s worked as a teacher, teacher-librarian, journalist, theatre publicist, radio producer, TV script assistant and lecturer in the Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing and Editing). She’s run creative writing workshops as part of Arts Victoria’s Artist in Schools program and tutored in the G.A.T.E.WAYS programs for talented and gifted children.

Rachel Barnett

Rachel Barnett is an author and illustrator and teacher and also the operator of Holus Bolus Books. She has been writing and drawing all of her life... or most of it anyway.

Renee Price

Renee Price is a children's author, song-writer and performer from Newcastle, New South Wales. She has 15 years collective experience in early childhood education, writing and entertainment.

Rory Hammersley-Mather

My name is Rory Hammersley-Mather, I live in Toowoomba, Australia. For many years I worked in the Young Peoples Department of a library where I facilitated story time to children of various ages. This gave me a great understanding of the type/style of books children engage with.

Rose Siva

Rose Siva, born in New Zealand, has lived in Australia since the late 1990’s. She currently lives on beautiful Tamborine Mountain in the south eastern corner of Queensland, Australia.

Sal Gallaher

Sal works as a planner during the day but dreams up stories at night. She has always had a strong love of storytelling right back to her childhood in Denmark The long dark winters provided plenty of indoor time perfect for reading and writing.

Sandra Bennett

Mother of three boys, retired Primary School teacher Sandra Bennett appreciates the struggle of teaching reading to reluctant readers and understands the importance of hooking readers from an early age. Increasing literacy in our children has become her passion.

Sandra Severgnini

I was the hard working owner of an art gallery and retail store in Melbourne for a decade before I finally decided it was well and truly time to stop looking after other creative people and nurture my own lifetime passion, to write and illustrate children’s books.

Sharna Carter

I am a teacher, mother, aspiring children’s author and picture book enthusiast!

Sharon Boyce

Hi, my name is Sharon Boyce. I have always loved to read and lose myself in faraway lands and magical places, sharing in the adventures of the characters. Creative writing was my favourite part of English at school and it was my Year 8 English teacher who suggested I become a writer.

Susan Berran

Author & illustrator of the ‘FREAKY Series’ Susan Berran is passionate about encouraging kids to read and write, particularly those reluctant readers so close to moving on to high school yet not at the required reading level.

With her stories content largely gross but hilarious, the series is striking a chord with many young readers and interestingly with many of the parents and grandparents that just need a good old laugh.

Susan Hili

Susan Hili lives in the beautiful Blue Mountains. She is semi-retired and has time now to explore her passion; writing children’s stories – inspired by her two granddaughters.

Suzanne Faed

My name is Suzanne Faed, but I prefer to be called Suzi. I am a qualified teacher, wife, and full-time mother to an energetic and book-loving toddler. I am also the author of the upcoming picture book, My Daddy is Different, which will be released through Empowering Resources mid-way through this year.

Tabitha Page

Tabitha Page is an emerging writer who lives in Melbourne, Australia. In 2010, she left her home country of New Zealand for a land full of new opportunities and new challenges and she found just that, in bucketsful.

A trained childcare professional, she holds a certificate in Child Psychology, a certificate and diploma in Children’s Services and has many years of childcare experience.

Vanessa Ryan-Rendall

Vanessa Ryan-Rendall is a Primary school teacher who currently works in the library. She has a Masters in Gifted Education and is passionate about encouraging children to read a diverse range of books so that they can open up their minds to other worlds and challenge their thinking.

Zoya Nojin

Zoya is a medical scientist with a passion for writing children’s stories.

She has won an ASA Mentorship with the lovely Nette Hilton, two Nairda Lyne Awards, Stringybark Flash Fiction Award, Gold Coast Writers’, Spooky But True – Warrambucca Books, KBR Unpublished Picture Book Award, a Kathleen Julia Bates Memorial Award and shortlisted for the Charlotte Duncan Award. In 2014, she won the CBCA’s Charlotte Waring Barton Award with Random House and was mentored for a middle-grade novel by JC Burke as part of the prize.