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.

Where were you born?

I was born in the outer suburbs of Perth, a place so desperately boring that my cousins, my friends and I were forced to use our imaginations to avoid death by tedium.

What other jobs have you had?

My most interesting day job was as Sergeant-at-Arms at the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia. I used to wield a big gold mace and was the only civilian in the state with the power of arrest.

What themes are recurring in your work?

Most of my titles are based in the real world and are often about friendship and learning how to get on with people who are different from you. Two of my YA books are set in the Australia of the 1950s and 1960s.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Winning the Western Australian Premier’s Literary Award for my first Young Adult novel, Obsession; having the same novel regularly stolen from libraries, (great to have written a book readers adore so much!)

What are you passionate about?

I want people to be tolerant of each other, and for kids to have confidence in their talents and abilities.

Haven’t I seen you before?

I was once on Red Faces on Hey Hey It’s Saturday, wearing a pink lame dress and a sequined cap and playing the kazoo.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I love Jack Russells, open-minded people and the beach.