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Audience: Parents
Steven Amsterdam
Author
Steven Amsterdam has been writing for decades, producing everything from speeches for the Tokyo Auto Show to little artsy dance reviews in free weeklies. His most recent book, What the Family Needed (Sleepers, 11/2011) was a chosen as a Great Read by Women’s Weekly. Already the book has been called “exhilarating” by The Australian and “strange and marvellous territory” by The Monthly. His first book, Things We Didn’t See Coming won The Age Book of the Year, was longlisted for The Guardian First Book Award, and has been printed to acclaim in the US and the UK this year, with French and Dutch editions. It has been selected for the VCE reading list for 2011 and 2012. He works as a palliative care nurse on some days and works on his next book on other days.
» Read more about Steven Amsterdam
David Astle
Author, Inspirational Speaker
Clue by clue, chapter by chapter, David Astle’s Puzzled meanders through the maze of a cryptic crossword, showing you the dark secrets and wondrous tricks of wordplay. ‘He’s the Sergeant Pepper of cryptic crosswords,’ says award-winning Australian actor Geoffrey Rush.
» Read more about David Astle
Tim Baker
Author, Journalist
Tim Baker is Australia’s favourite surfing writer, a former editor of Tracks and Surfing Life magazine, who has written a string of best-selling surfing biographies and collected surf stories. He has twice received the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Culture Award and been shortlisted for the CUB Australian Sports Writing Awards.
» Read more about Tim Baker
Tristan Bancks
Author
Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His background is in acting and filmmaking. His most recent books are Galactic Adventures, First Kids in Space (UQP) and My Life and Other Stuff I Made Up (Random House).
Tristan will tour schools in Victoria in August 2012
» Read more about Tristan Bancks
Catherine Bateson
Author
Catherine Bateson has won the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers twice and received three Honour Book Awards, including one for Older Readers. She teaches in the Professional Writing and Editing course at TAFE but is also available for school visits, to talk about both fiction writing and poetry.
» Read more about Catherine Bateson
Michael Gerard Bauer
Author
Michael Gerard Bauer is an in-demand speaker and a popular writer for children and young adults. His books have been shortlisted, won numerous awards and are used as class texts in many schools around Australia. He has written drama, comedy and adventure.
Michael will tour schools in Victoria and South Australia in 2012
» Read more about Michael Gerard Bauer
Rachel Berger
Entertainer, Author, Inspirational Speaker
Rachel Berger is one of Australia’s most highly regarded, adept, and adaptive comedic talents, working variously as a broadcaster, comic, novelist, columnist, agitator and television entertainer. Rachel’s dynamic presence and engagingly sharp observations have made her an extremely popular performer both live and on television, across Australia and overseas.
» Read more about Rachel Berger
Lola Berry
Author, Inspirational Speaker, Entertainer
Lola Berry’s Inspiring Ingredients is a renown health and cook book aimed to inspire you to control weight, boost energy and love food.
» Read more about Lola Berry
Steve Biddulph
Personal Development, Education Consultant, Social Commentator, Author
Psychologist Steve Biddulph realised that males were in crisis at a time when it was fashionable to ignore their needs. He blitzed schools and communities around the globe with engaging, practical and moving seminars, facilitating a cultural shift which is still in motion. His parenting books, including Raising Boys and Manhood, are now in four million homes and twenty seven languages.
» Read more about Steve Biddulph
Dr Karen Brooks
Education Consultant, Social Commentator, Author
Described as ‘Australia’s best known academic’ by ABC radio and a ‘celebrity academic’ by other media, Karen lectures on the areas of youth, sexuality and popular culture using a psychoanalytical model. Karen has also worked as a professional actress, a children’s playwright, an Army Officer in the Royal Australian Army Survey Corp, a checkout-chick, an assessment clerk with the NRMA, a waitress, a dress-boutique manager, a theatre director, a wife (twice), and a mother (twice over too!).
» Read more about Dr Karen Brooks
Kevin Burgemeestre
Author, Illustrator
Kevin trained in illustration, inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Bugs Bunny to tell the story with pictures! His writing debut came with B is for Bravo, a dramatic picture book about Australian aviation illustrated using 3D (grab your glasses!) dioramas made from recycled stuff. He loves telling Australian stories and giving inspirational workshops, where he is often heard saying: “There’s nothing you can’t do on paper!”
» Read more about Kevin Burgemeestre
Lauren Burns
Author, Inspirational Speaker
Lauren Burns OAM, Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist (BHSc) Olympic Gold Medallist, Taekwondo Sydney 2000
Lauren Burns created sporting history by winning the first Olympic gold medal for Taekwondo when the sport made its debut at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The nation watched as Lauren’s victory brought the Australian public and Olympic crowd to its feet. Before her Olympic win, few people knew that Lauren had been 12 times Australian Champion and had achieved a string of international titles including numerous medals at world championship level.
» Read more about Lauren Burns
Paul Callaghan
Author, Education Consultant
Paul Callaghan has worked in game development for over 10 years as a programmer, designer, teacher, and writer. His interests include games and literacy, storytelling, design, and intersection of learning and play and creative expression through interaction.
» Read more about Paul Callaghan
Dr Leslie Cannold
Author, Inspirational Speaker, Social Commentator, Journalist
Dr Leslie Cannold is an author, commentator, ethicist and activist. Her books include the award-winning The Abortion Myth and What, No Baby? which made the Australian Financial Review’s top 101 books list. Her first novel, The Book of Rachael was published in 2011 by Text. Leslie is often noted as one of Australia’s leading thinkers. In 2005 she was listed alongside Professor Peter Singer, Professor Gustav Nossal and Inga Clendinnen as one of Australia’s top 20 public intellectuals. In 2011 she was named Australian Humanist of the Year.
» Read more about Dr Leslie Cannold
Isobelle Carmody
Author, Illustrator
Isobelle Carmody is one of Australia’s most highly regarded and prominent authors of fantasy for young adult readers. A consummate and much-loved storyteller, Isobelle has a host of award-winning novels to her credit, including The Obernewton Chronicles and The Legend of Little Fur series. Her latest books are The Red Wind and a collaborative collection of short stories based on fairy tales, with Nan Mc Nab, The Wilful Eye.
Isobelle will be touring Tasmania (Hobart) (7-11 May) and Victoria (Melbourne) (15-16 May) 2012.
Isobelle’s dates in Melbourne are now booked out for 2012.
» Read more about Isobelle Carmody
Jane Caro
Author, Social Commentator
Jane Caro is an author, novelist, award winning advertising writer and political/social commentator. She is a funny, warm and engaging speaker in high demand both on podiums and on radio and TV for her straight – talking style. She is passionate about connecting with people through words – whether spoken, written or broadcast and loves to tell a story.
» Read more about Jane Caro
Mark Carthew
Author, Storyteller/Performer, Entertainer
Mark Carthew is an award winning editor and children’s author well known for his many books and series exploring wordplay, music, movement, drama, jokes, rhymes and riddles! Mark’s recent picture book The Gobbling Tree was a winner of the Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year.
» Read more about Mark Carthew
Kathy Charles
Author
Kathy Charles is the author of the novel Hollywood Ending, a startling and timely tale of teenagers obsessed with dead celebrities.
» Read more about Kathy Charles
Anna Ciddor
Author, Illustrator
Anna Ciddor has written and illustrated over 50 books on topics as diverse as Vikings, travel, toilets and Australian history. She is best known for her highly popular Viking Magic trilogy Runestone, Wolfspell and Stormriders.
» Read more about Anna Ciddor
Margaret Clark
Author
Margaret Clark is the author of classic Australian children’s novels such as No Fat Chicks, Living with Leanne, and Hot Or What.
» Read more about Margaret Clark
Sherryl Clark
Author
Sherryl Clark writes stories for all ages – from picture books to verse novels and novels for middle/older readers. She loves inventing characters and doing research, and then weaving the amazing things she discovers into all kinds of stories.
» Read more about Sherryl Clark
Chris Daicos
Education Consultant, Personal Development, Social Commentator
As a trained social worker and teacher Chris Daicos has extensive experience in working directly with children and adolescents in schools. Chris can talk to welfare staff, teaching staff, and parents.
» Read more about Chris Daicos
Mary Delahunty
Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Commentator
Mary is a writer, award winning ABC Journalist and former Education Minister. She is National Director of Writing Australia and Chair of Orchestra Victoria. She was the first female solo prime time TV newsreader in Victoria, and the first female Planning Minister in Victoria.
» Read more about Mary Delahunty
Paul Dillon
Author, Personal Development, Education Consultant, Social Commentator
Paul Dillon has a unique investment in the wellbeing of young people. Founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia and a former school teacher, Paul continues to conduct drug information sessions and workshops for school students across Australia and internationally, in countries as diverse as the UK, the Phillipines, and Indonesia.
» Read more about Paul Dillon
Garry Disher
Author
Garry Disher is one of Australia’s best-known authors. He’s written over forty books: crime thrillers, children’s/YA fiction, literary novels, and writers’ handbooks, many of which have won awards and are popular in Europe and the USA.
» Read more about Garry Disher
Mark Dobson
Author, Personal Development, Inspirational Speaker
Mark Dobson is a performance coach that advises some of the most elite athletes on the planet. He was a founding member of New York City’s first University for talented teenagers which was acknowledged by President Barack Obama for its educational innovation. He is a captivating and entertaining speaker that offers very strategic advice on performing at your best.
Mark will take expressions of interest for student welfare/development days with schools in Western Australia and other states in 2012.
» Read more about Mark Dobson
Nick Earls
Author
Nick Earls is the author of twelve novels and two collections of short stories. Two of his novels have been adapted into feature films, and five have become stage plays.
» Read more about Nick Earls
Anthony Eaton
Author
Anthony Eaton has been writing books for children, young adults, and adults for over ten years and speaks regularly at schools and writers festivals across Australia.
» Read more about Anthony Eaton
Meyer Eidelson
Storyteller/Performer, Social Commentator, Author, Entertainer
Meyer has written over fourteen books and published a number of others as the publishing coordinator of the St Kilda Historical Society. All the books deal with the natural, cultural and social history of Melbourne. He is the founder of Melbourne Walks, which uses the performative and engaging format of a walking tour to impart social, cultural and historical knowledge.
» Read more about Meyer Eidelson
Declan Fay
Author, Storyteller/Performer, Inspirational Speaker, Journalist
Declan Fay is one of Australia’s leading comedy writers and motivational speakers. He has performed at the Comedy festival, The fringe Festival and written for some of the best (and worst) television shows. He has spoken at over 600 different schools around Australia. He has never been pelted with fruit, although his dad once threw a Whopper with cheese at him for talking during the Bill.
Declan will take expressions of interest for student welfare/development days with schools in Western Australia and other states in 2012.
» Read more about Declan Fay
Corinne Fenton
Author
Corinne Fenton has a passion for picture books, especially those that have a connection with history. Her picture books are read by four to ninety-four year olds.
Corrine will tour schools in Tasmania and South Australia in 2012
» Read more about Corinne Fenton
Evelyn Field
Personal Development, Education Consultant, Social Commentator
Evelyn Field is an international expert in managing school and workplace bullying.
» Read more about Evelyn Field
Pat Flynn
Author
An ex professional tennis player and teacher, Pat Flynn writes realistic fiction with a dose of humour for 8-16 year olds. His book The Tuckshop Kid won an Honour Book Prize at the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and his new books include The Trophy Kid and How to Get Dumped.
» Read more about Pat Flynn
Arabella Forge
Author, Personal Development
Arabella Forge is a Melbourne-based nutritionist, food writer and proud home-cook.
» Read more about Arabella Forge
Nina Funnell
Education Consultant, Social Commentator, Inspirational Speaker
Nina Funnell is a freelance opinion writer and researcher. She has had work published in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Age, The Brisbane Times and in the Sydney Star Observer. Nina often writes on gender and sexuality related issues and also sits on the board of the NSW Rape Crisis Centre, the Premier’s Council on Preventing Violence Against Women and the National Children and Youth Law Centre. In 2010, she also received the Australian Human Rights Commission Community Individual Award for her work in advocacy against sexual assault and violence.
» Read more about Nina Funnell
Archie Fusillo
Author, Personal Development, Inspirational Speaker
Archie is one of the most in-demand and successful presenters of author talks and workshops in Australia. Archie’s versatility means he can communicate to, and cater for, a range of abilities and interests. The fact that he was a teacher and features writer probably helps.
Archie will tour schools in Tasmania, Brisbane and Adelaide in 2012
Archie will take expressions of interest for residencies with schools in Western Australia and other states in 2012.
» Read more about Archie Fusillo
Jane Godwin
Author
Jane Godwin is the Publisher, Books for Children and Young Adults, at Penguin Books Australia. She is also a highly acclaimed author of many books for children.
» Read more about Jane Godwin
Anna Goldsworthy
Author, Entertainer, Inspirational Speaker
Anna Goldsworthy is a prize-winning classical pianist and writer. She an engaging speaker and performer, and is passionate about bringing the lessons of classical music to the widest possible audience.
» Read more about Anna Goldsworthy
Peter Goldsworthy
Author
Peter Goldsworthy grew up in various country towns, finishing his schooling in Darwin, which was the site of his first novel, Maestro. He graduated in medicine from the University of Adelaide in 1974 and now devotes his time equally to medicine and writing.
» Read more about Peter Goldsworthy
Tiffiny Hall
Author, Inspirational Speaker
Tiffiny Hall is a radiant role model. Author, journalist, human improver, Gladiator, Health Ninja, she is a woman with many titles tucked under her 5th Dan black belt. She has been empowering kids with her self-protection programs and messages of health and confidence in schools for ten years. A lifetime in martial arts as a competitor and instructor, she is best known for her role as ‘Angel’ on Gladiators, as the Health Ninja on Channel Ten’s The Circle and in 2011 you will see her training contestants on The Biggest Loser. The health hero is also a graduate of Melbourne University with Bachelor of Arts/Media and Communications and a Diploma of Modern Languages in French. Her school sessions empower her audience with fun and digestible messages to build self-esteem and confidence.
» Read more about Tiffiny Hall
Maggie Hamilton
Personal Development, Education Consultant, Social Commentator, Author
Writer, publisher and social researcher Maggie Hamilton gives talks and lectures, is a regular media commentator and a keen observer of social trends. Her many books have been published in Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Italy, the Arab States, Lithuania and Brazil, and include What Men Don’t Talk About, What’s Happening to Our Girls?, and now What Happening to Our Boys? which looks at the 21st century challenges of our boys.
» Read more about Maggie Hamilton
Roland Harvey
Author, Illustrator
Roland Harvey writes and illustrates highly detailed, funny and slightly educational books using pen ink and watercolour. He has won a number of awards including the Dromkeen Medal. He demonstrates his craft in an entertaining manner to all ages.
» Read more about Roland Harvey
Barry Heard
Author, Social Commentator, Personal Development, Inspirational Speaker
Barry Heard is Scribe Publication’s bestselling author. His first book, Well Done Those Men is used in over one hundred high schools throughout Australia in both History and English subject areas. Barry visits these schools to give talks on the book. Now claimed as a classic, the author has received over 100 000 emails and some 30 000 letters in response to the book. The book is essential reading in most Australian University History faculties.
Barry has been involved with fund raising for the Hope Foundation, the Fred Hollows Foundation, Books for Bhutan, and the Repatriation Hospital Heidelberg. His writing has garnered him the Weary Dunlop Award and the Sir Edmund Herring award, and he is a five time winner of the Veteran Community short story competition.
» Read more about Barry Heard
John Heffernan
Author
John Heffernan has written about thirty books for a range of audiences from early readers to young adults, in a range of genre that includes realistic fiction, fantasy, futuristic, and picture books. He also writes for junior readers under the pseudonym “Charlie Carter” (most notably, the Battle Boy series).
John/Charlie will tour Queensland schools in August (Brisbane) and October (Cairns) 2012
» Read more about John Heffernan
Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson
Personal Development, Education Consultant
Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson is the Principal of the School of Thinking (SOT). He is a former colleague of Edward de Bono and holds the world’s first PhD in Lateral Thinking. SOT is the longest running global program for the teaching of thinking skills.
» Read more about Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson
Robert Hillman
Author
Robert Hillman has published more than sixty works of fiction and non-fiction. His books feature in school libraries all over Australia and his autobiography, The Boy in the Green Suit, won the 2005 Australian National Biography Award. His publications cover sports, Australian history, nation building, Young Australian achievers, and the plight of refugees and asylum seekers
» Read more about Robert Hillman
Nette Hilton
Author
Nette Hilton is a compelling and challenging storyteller of exciting tales for children of all ages with a voice that is strong and filled with warmth and humour. She creates the extraordinary in the everyday lives of families captivating her readers while opening new worlds and realities for them.
» Read more about Nette Hilton
Kate Holden
Author, Inspirational Speaker
Kate Holden is the author of the best-selling In My Skin and a columnist for The Age. She speaks frankly and movingly of her time as a heroin addict and sex worker, talks of personal dignity and survival, and also speaks about her writing career as a memoirist and freelancer.
» Read more about Kate Holden
Elizabeth Honey
Author, Illustrator
Elizabeth Honey is an award-winning author of poetry, picture books and novels. She is also an artist and illustrates her own books. Her playful humour, originality, and energy strike a chord with children everywhere. Her novels are published in many countries.
» Read more about Elizabeth Honey
Lucy Howard-Taylor
Author, Inspirational Speaker, Social Commentator
» Read more about Lucy Howard-Taylor
Melinda Hutchings
Author, Personal Development, Inspirational Speaker
Melinda Hutchings is a media commentator, author, speaker and mentor on the topic of body image and teen issues. She is the author of four books and is passionate about empowering young people to face and overcome challenging issues and to recognise their enormous potential to create a happy and fulfilling future.
» Read more about Melinda Hutchings
Michael Hyde
Author, Social Commentator, Curriculum Specialist, Journalist
Michael Hyde has written for kids, teens and YA for 30 years. He has twenty five published books, mostly fiction, but also several English and Writing texts.
» Read more about Michael Hyde
Tara June Winch
Author, Social Commentator
‘Tara June Winch is a most stimulating young person to know and to interact with, an active mind and a truly engaged social being.’ Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
» Read more about Tara June Winch
Jason Kimberly
Author, Inspirational Speaker, Social Commentator
Cool Australia founder Jason Kimberly is an eco-warrior, globally renowned photographer, adventurer and founder of the online environmental resources, Cool Australia and Our Cool School.
» Read more about Jason Kimberly
Anneli Knight
Author, Personal Development, Inspirational Speaker, Social Commentator, Journalist
Anneli is a regular contributor to The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers and is author of Flirting with Finance, the modern woman’s guide to financial freedom. She lives and writes between Melbourne, the Kimberley and Northern NSW.
» Read more about Anneli Knight
Julia Lawrinson
Author
Julia Lawrinson is an award-winning author for children and young adults and an engaging presenter for students of all ages. She had published ten novels from Aussie Nibbles to young adult fiction.
» Read more about Julia Lawrinson
Sue Lawson
Author
Sue Lawson worked as a teacher and a radio announcer/producer before serious illness motivated her to devote more time to her true passion – writing.
» Read more about Sue Lawson
Tim Macartney-Snape
Inspirational Speaker
Australiaʼs most well known mountaineer is a veteran of pioneering routes in remote regions of the Himalaya but is best known for his attempts of Mount Everest on two very different, pioneering expeditions. Remarkably he reached the summit on both occasions, without the use of bottled oxygen and in a style and substance of a class way beyond the realm of guided ascents so popular in recent times.
» Read more about Tim Macartney-Snape
Emily Maguire
Author, Social Commentator
Emily Maguire is the award-winning author of three novels and two non-fiction books. Her articles and essays on sex, religion, culture and literature have been published widely in Australian and international magazines, journals and newspapers.
» Read more about Emily Maguire
John Marsden
Author
John Marsden is the author of titles including So Much to Tell You, Letters From the Inside, and the much celebrated Tomorrow series, adapted for film in 2010. From a childhood at a deeply conservative paramilitary school with strict standards and a culture of rugby and rowing, John developed a passion for reading, writing and education at an early age. So far has published fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults and adults and has founded the Candlebark School in Victoria.
» Read more about John Marsden
Maureen McCarthy
Author
Maureen McCarthy is one of Australia’s best loved writer’s for Young Adults. Her novels are full of gutsy and believable characters caught at the cusp of adulthood – a time when so much is changing and being decided. Her strong storylines celebrate the complexity of contemporary life with honesty and humor.
» Read more about Maureen McCarthy
Matt McFadyen
Inspirational Speaker
From dragging sleds to the North Pole to sailing tiny yachts to Antarctica, Matt McFadyen has been there and done that. At the age of 29 Matt has spent the last decade pushing himself to his physical and mental limits while exploring some of the most remote parts of the globe.
» Read more about Matt McFadyen
Peter Meares
Author, Journalist
With forty years experience in sports media, Peter Meares is one of Queensland’s best-known sports commentators. He has published three books and has another two out later this year. A regular on ABC radio, he will be covering his fifth Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October, 2010.
» Read more about Peter Meares
David Metzenthen
Author
David Metzenthen is a writer of Australian stories for readers aged from six to young adulthood. He has won many prizes for his work and his books have graced many shortlists.
» Read more about David Metzenthen
Glenda Millard
Author
Glenda Millard writes picture books, novels for younger readers and for young adults. Her books have been published in Australia and internationally and have won many accolades.
» Read more about Glenda Millard
James Moloney
Author
James Moloney has written more than thirty books for readers between seven and seventeen years old. Many of his YA novels are widely studied in schools and two have won the CBCA Book of the Year Award. He is an engaging speaker for all ages from seven upwards.
James will tour schools in Victoria and Tasmania in 2012
» Read more about James Moloney
Bernie Monagle
Author, Personal Development, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker
Bernie regularly runs workshops for teachers and writers, describing himself as a Storyteller, Writer, Educator. He frequently visits schools and talks to students in schools about writing stories and living stories. His own story is inspirational. A gifted communicator, he never fails to engage and inspire his audience.
» Read more about Bernie Monagle
Kirsty Murray
Author
Kirsty Murray is a multi award-winning author of fourteen books whose dynamic and inspiring presentations are guaranteed to send young people away itching to read more widely and to believe that they too can share their stories with the world.
Kirsty will tour schools in South Australia in August 2012
» Read more about Kirsty Murray
Dr Michael Nagel
Author, Personal Development, Education Consultant, Social Commentator
Dr Michael Nagel is an Associate Professor and the Head of Education Programs in the School of Science in Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Dr Nagel teaches and researches in the areas of cognition, behaviour and learning and human development and early learning.
» Read more about Dr Michael Nagel
Richard Newsome
Author
Richard Newsome has worked as a journalist, a strategy consultant and the communications director for a multinational media company. His Billionaire’s trilogy of children’s books, which has been sold into eight countries, started as a bedtime story for his children.
» Read more about Richard Newsome
Kathleen Noonan
Journalist, Social Commentator
Kathleen Noonan is a journalist with The Courier-Mail, writing feature stories and arts and music interviews. She writes a weekly column The Last Word in the paper on Saturdays.
» Read more about Kathleen Noonan
Wendy Orr
Author
Wendy Orr has spoken to groups as little as 5 and as big as 5000 people across Australia, Canada and the USA. She is known for the honesty and inspirational qualities of her sessions.
» Read more about Wendy Orr
Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
Author, Personal Development, Education Consultant, Social Commentator
Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli has gained national and international recognition as a writer, researcher, lecturer and consultant in the issues of cultural diversity, gender diversity, sexual diversity, family diversity, HIV/AIDS, and social diversity in health and education, with a specific focus on adolescence and young people. She is Honorary Patron of PFLAG Victoria; External Faculty Member of Saybrook University in San Francisco and Founding Member of AGMC (Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council), which has been recognised as a member of FECCA (Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia). Her first novel has recently won a 2010 US Lambda Literary Award
» Read more about Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
Tim Pegler
Author, Journalist, Social Commentator
Acclaimed YA author Tim Pegler is an award-winning journalist, extensively published in newspapers, magazines and online. Tim’s experience covering social issues, such as homelessness, disability and juvenile justice, provides the foundation for much of his writing for young adults.
» Read more about Tim Pegler
James Phelan
Author
James Phelan was born in 1979 and lives in Melbourne. He studied and worked in architecture, before turning to English literature. He graduated with a Master of Arts in writing, which he used to waste five good years at a newspaper. He first non-fiction book was published at age twenty-five and he has been a full-time novelist since 2006, and currently divides his time between writing the Lachlan Fox thriller series, and the Alone post-apocalyptic trilogy for Young Adults.
James will be featured in the 2012 Get Reading! program. He will tour nationally in August – lodge your expressions of interest with us now.
James will be available for Melbourne schools and libraries in Book Week (20-24 August) exclusively through Booked Out.
» Read more about James Phelan
Michael Pryor
Author
Best-selling author Michael Pryor has published more than twenty books and fifty short stories. He is one of Australia’s leading fantasy writers. Michael has been shortlisted six times for the Aurealis Awards (including for BLAZE OF GLORY and HEART OF GOLD), has been nominated for a Ditmar award, and five of his books have been CBCA Notable Books, including WORD OF HONOUR.
» Read more about Michael Pryor
Felicity Pulman
Author
Felicity’s stories reflect her passion for history (both Australian history and medieval England) and her fascination with the unknown in our world: time travel, ghosts and reincarnation.
» Read more about Felicity Pulman
Alice Pung
Author, Personal Development, Inspirational Speaker, Social Commentator, Curriculum Specialist
Alice Pung is a writer and lawyer who loves teaching. Alice’s books are studied in secondary schools and universities in Australia as well as the United States, and she has taught writing workshops to students from the ages of 8 to 80 in Australia, China and the States.
» Read more about Alice Pung
Sally Rippin
Author, Illustrator
Sally Rippin is one of Booked Out’s most versatile speakers. She has run workshops and given presentations from Prep to Year 12 in both writing and illustrating. Sally travels regularly throughout Australia to speak at schools and festivals and has recently had residencies in Beijing, Singapore, Shanghai and Ghana.
» Read more about Sally Rippin
Dr Marcus Robertson
Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development
Marcus is a medical doctor and popular motivational speaker, who has addressed thousands of school children and a large number of businesses over the last ten years on a wide variety of health and personal welfare subjects.
As a high school and university student, Marcus was extremely successful at combining academic excellence with a high-profile sporting career. He was awarded an Australian student prize in Year 12 with a near-perfect ENTER score and subsequently graduated as Dux of Monash Medicine. Throughout these achievements, he trained as a competitive swimmer and represented Australia at the highest level.
» Read more about Dr Marcus Robertson
Jeannette Rowe
Author, Illustrator
Jeannette Rowe is one of Australia’s best selling preschool authors/illustrators. She has published over serventy picture books over the past twelve years and has sold nearly two million books around the world.
» Read more about Jeannette Rowe
Andrew Rule
Author, Social Commentator, Journalist
Since starting on a country newspaper in 1975, Andrew Rule has worked on three metropolitan newspapers and in both radio and television production. He has written, co-written, edited and published many books, including the Underbelly true crime series and the Chopper series, which inspired the successful feature film. He hosts a regular fortnightly spot on Triple M’s Hot Breakfast called In The Rule World.
» Read more about Andrew Rule
Ellen Sandell
Social Commentator
Ellen Sandell is the Campaign Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition – an innovative climate change organisation that is also Australia’s largest youth organisation. In 2009, she was the Joint Environment Minister’s Young Environmentalist of the Year, won the Melbourne Awards for Individual Contribution to the Environment and was featured in The Age Melbourne Magazine as one of the top 100 influential Melburnians.
» Read more about Ellen Sandell
Angela Savage
Author, Social Commentator
Angela Savage’s crime novels are inspired by the six and a half years she spent living in South-east Asia in the late 1990s, working for the Red Cross on HIV/AIDS programs. Her love affair with Asia continues, and in 2008 she spent the year in Cambodia with her partner and their two-year-old.
» Read more about Angela Savage
Trent Southworth
Personal Development, Social Commentator
Trent Southworth is a former NSW Police Officer with over fourteen years policing experience, including eight years employed in the Youth Liaison role. In his role, Trent worked closely with numerous government and non government agencies to identify youth related initiatives such as underage drinking programs, truancy, road safety, drug programs, and bullying.
He assisted in the implementation and monitoring of the State Governments Young Offenders Act, which targets all young offenders aged between 10 and 18 years of age. Through his experience in the NSW Police, Trent witnessed first-hand the importance of ongoing education of young people in today’s society.
Since leaving the Police, Trent has developed and facilitated numerous seminars for students, teachers, parents and community groups Australia-wide.
» Read more about Trent Southworth
Anne Spudvilas
Illustrator
Anne Spudvilas is a multi award-winning illustrator of children’s books. Her work on the picture book version of Mao’s Last Dancer, The Peasant Prince, took her to China with author Li Cunxin. The Peasant Prince won both the NSW and Qld Premiers Awards and CBCA Honor book in 2008. Anne’s work concentrates on portraying character and expression in people in commissioned portraits, courtroom sketching and children’s books. Anne is in demand for drawing workshops here and overseas and gives presentations about the process of illustrating books for primary and secondary level.
» Read more about Anne Spudvilas
Anne E. Stewart
Storyteller/Performer
Anne E Stewart is an acclaimed storyteller with an international reputation. A versatile performer Anne has the energy and voice to engage any audience. Her focus is on the shared stories of Australia honouring Indigenous, Celtic, Asian and World stories.
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John Tesarsch
Author
John is currently a solicitor, and before that was a barrister. Before that, he was a musician, and as a cellist was a part-time member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Vienna Bach Soloists and Haydn Sinfonietta. (He’s also worked as a Berlitz teacher, a warehouseman and a fertiliser salesman.) So when he came to publish his first novel, The Philanthropist with Sleepers Publishing in late 2010, it’s no wonder many reviewers described him as a Renaissance man of many talents, and rare insight. John draws on his work outside writing: he is fascinated (and he argues, due to his work in the legal profession) by the profound effect that even a momentary indiscretion can have on a person’s life.
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Tony Thompson
Author, Education Consultant, Curriculum Specialist
Tony Thompson is a Melbourne based writer and teacher. He has written two non fiction books for teenagers. His articles on education have appeared in The Age and The Australian.
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Robyn Treyvaud
Education Consultant, Social Commentator
Robyn is specialist consultant at the Centre for Strategic Education working with schools and their communities nationally and internationally in the area of cybersafety. She has had 30 years teaching, curriculum development and school leadership experience in both the government and independent systems.
Robyn is an innovator, leader and team member of large scale projects in Australia and is acknowledged as an expert in cybersafety by her peers and wider community.
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Tammy van Wisse
Inspirational Speaker
Marathon swimmer, Tammy van Wisse currently holds five World Records. She has swum the English Channel twice (the success rate is only seven percent), is the only person to have swum Bass Strait and spent three and a half months submerged in the mighty Murray River – just to mention a few of her milestones.
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Erin Vincent
Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development
Erin Vincent is a highly respected journalist who has worked both here and in the US for publications such as The Australian, Marie Claire, The Sunday Telegraph and America’s biggest selling publication People Magazine. She is also the author of the acclaimed memoir Grief Girl: My True Story that is now in its seventh printing in the US and was named a New York Public Library’s Best Book for 2007.
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Michael Wagner
Author
Michael Wagner is one of Australia’s most original and successful writers for children. His 45+ books successfully engage readers (even reluctant ones) with quirky humour, fast-paced action and unpredictable storytelling.
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Gabrielle Wang
Author, Illustrator
Gabrielle Wang is an award winning author and illustrator of novels and picture books for children and young adults. She was born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage. As a result, Gabrielle’s books are a blend of both Australian and Chinese culture with a touch of fantasy. She has conducted workshops in writing and illustrating around Australia and overseas.
Gabrielle Wang will take expressions of interest from schools in South Australia in May 2012
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Frances Whiting
Author, Journalist
Frances Whiting is Queensland’s best-known and best-loved newspaper columnist. For five years her weekly column in the Sunday Mail has made readers smile, cry, tear their hair out, and on several occasions, fall out of bed laughing. Frances is also the Associate Editor of the Sunday Mail and Senior Feature Writer. When she isn’t doing all of these things she enjoys playing guitar badly and falling off her surfboard.
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Lili Wilkinson
Author, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker
Lili Wilkinson is a reader and writer of YA literature. She is the author of five books for teenagers. When she’s not reading or writing, she can often be found making monsters out of wool.
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Tony Wilson
Author, Entertainer, Inspirational Speaker
Tony Wilson has written two hilarious satirical novels about celebrity and tabloid media. He is also the author of five picture books, and has worked successfully on television (Race Around the World and Santo, Sam and Ed’s Cup Fever!), radio (Triple R’s Breakfasters) and print media (The Age and The Monthly).
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Fiona Wood
Author
Fiona Wood has been writing television scripts for the last ten years on shows ranging from MDA and The Secret Life of Us, to Home and Away and Neighbours. Her first YA novel is Six Impossible Things. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, two YAs and a bad old dog.
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Randa Abdel-Fattah
Author, Social Commentator
Randa Abdel-Fattah is the award-winning author of young adult novels and has extensive experience speaking at schools, writer’s festivals, universities and conferences in Australia and overseas. She is also a human rights activist and practicing lawyer and enjoys a public profile, appearing on television programs such as the ABC’s Q & A, First Tuesday Book Club, SBS’s Insight and Channel Seven’s Sunrise.
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Location
New South Wales