Audience: Primary

Hilary Badger

Author

Hilary is the author of the Space Scout series, which follows the adventures of Kip Kirby, an intrepid space explorer. Hilary’s alter-ego is H.I. Larry, the mysterious author of the popular Zac Power series.

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.

Davina Bell

Author

Davina Bell is a West Australian writer living in Melbourne, who works as an editor in the world of children’s books. Her essays and short stories have been published in various collections. Her books for Penguin’s Our Australian Girl series are her first novels.

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.

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.

Cath Crowley

Author

Cath Crowley is the author of the Gracie Faltrain trilogy, Chasing Charlie Duskin, Graffiti Moon and Rosie Staples’ Minor Magical Misunderstanding.

Justin D'Ath

Author

Justin D’Ath is the author of over thirty books for children and young adults, but is best known for his hugely successful Extreme Adventure series, which are particularly popular with boys and reluctant readers.

Lee Fox

Author

Lee Fox writes hilarious stories in rollicking rhyme about the things children do not like doing. She cleverly disguises literacy concepts in her stories so that young readers don’t even know they are learning.

Morris Gleitzman

Author

Morris is one of Australia’s most successful authors. He was born in England and emigrated to Australia in 1969 so he could escape from school and become a Very Famous Writer. Before realising that dream, he had a colourful career as a paperboy, department store Santa Claus and chicken defroster. Morris is the author of some of Australia’s favourite children’s books, including Two Weeks with the Queen, Boy Overboard, Once, Then, and Grace.

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.

H J Harper

Author

When H.J. Harper was growing up in WA, she wanted to be either a mad scientist or an author. She now lives in Victoria and writes books for younger readers, like the action-packed Star League series, but is still working on her Mad Science PhD.

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

Carol Jones

Author

Carol Jones has been a teacher, children’s magazine editor and publisher. She has written more than 40 books for children, including educational fiction and non-fiction, eight novels and trade non-fiction.

Kim Kane

Author

Kim Kane was born in London in a bed bequeathed by Wordsworth to …a writer, a painter or a poet'. Despite this auspicious beginning, she went on to practise law.

In 2004, Kim threw her unbridled materialism to the wind and started to write. Kim now works exactly part-time as a lawyer and exactly part-time as a writer and the combination is perfect.

Kim has noticed that most proper children’s writers like chickens. Kim hates chickens. She does, however, like being backstage, her nephew, Angus, and, if she is strictly honest, most fatty snacks. Above all of these things (except perhaps Angus), Kim likes telling stories, and on a good writing day she wouldn’t trade her life for anything.

Phil Kettle

Author

Phil is an award winning author of over 150 books. Phil is a much sought after school speaker.

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.

Doug MacLeod

Author

Doug MacLeod had his first book published at the age of sixteen, which earned him a fan letter from British comedian John Cleese. After graduating from the writing course at The Victorian College of Arts, Doug became head writer of the hit show The Comedy Company, and continued working full-time in TV for fourteen years, before leaving to write novels for young adults.

Doug MacLeod will take expressions of interest from schools in South Australia in May 2012

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.

Andrew McDonald

Author

Andrew McDonald is an author, a blogger and a mammal. His debut book for children, The Greatest Blogger in the World, features a protagonist, a blog, and a duck.

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.

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.

Robert Newton

Author

Robert Newton works as a full-time firefighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. His wrote his first novel, My Name is Will Thompson in 2001 and since then has written four other novels for young adults, including Runner in 2005 and Black Dog Gang in 2007. His upcoming novel for young adults is set for a 2011 release.

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.

Michael Panckridge

Author

Michael Panckridge has written over thirty five books, many with a sporty theme, making them ideal reads for boys and reluctant readers. They are pacy, readable and hit the spot!

Chrissie Perry

Author

Chrissie Perry has written twenty-five books for kids, including thirteen in the popular Go Girl! series that explore ‘real life, for real girls’.

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.

Marion Roberts

Author

Marion Roberts is a fiction writer with two novels published for young readers following the misguided adventures of eleven-year-old Sunny Hathaway. Marion also has a Masters in creative writing and enjoys teaching children to develop their writing skills by running workshops in schools.

Penni Russon

Author

Penni Russon is an intelligent literary author for young people with a Masters in Creative Writing. She has worked as an online editor and in book publishing, and in teaching creative writing at university.

Jen Storer

Author

Jen Storer is the author of Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children (Penguin/Viking) which was short-listed for several awards including the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, 2010. She has a first class honours degree in Literature from Monash University.

Due to other committments, Jen will not be taking school visits in 2012. You are welcome to express interest for future visits.

Ian Trevaskis

Author

Ian writes picture story books, novels for older readers and young adult novels as well as dabbling in some freelance journalism. He was, until recently a primary school teacher, but after 40 years in front of a chalkboard he finally decided writing is heaps more fun and so much quieter.

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.